The Effect of Recognition and Expression of Emotions Program Applied to Schizophrenia Patients
Condition: Schizophrenia; Alexithymia; Emotion, Expressed
MeSH terms: Schizophrenia; Affective Symptoms
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      As a result of the positive and negative symptoms that occur in schizophrenia, patients with
      schizophrenia may experience negative emotions more frequently than individuals with other
      mental problems. Since these emotions can trigger psychotic symptoms, there is a need to
      develop effective emotion regulation strategies to be applied to patients with schizophrenia.

      Aim: In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of emotion recognition and expression
      program on alexithymia and emotion expression in patients with schizophrenia.
    

Detailed description: 
      Method: Fifty schizophrenic patients who regularly receive outpatient treatment at Sinop
      Community Mental Health Center will form the universe of the study. Individuals over the age
      of 18 who have schizophrenia, do not have mental retardation, have no comprehension and
      hearing problems, have insight, and are in remission will be included in the study.
      Individuals who meet the study criteria will be divided into experimental and control groups
      as 22 experimental and 22 control groups. The emotion recognition and expression program
      prepared by the researchers in line with the literature will be applied to the experimental
      group for 8 weeks. Personal Information Form, Expression of Emotions Scale, Positive and
      Negative Syndrome Scale and Toronto Alexithymia Scale were planned to be applied to the
      experimental and control groups in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Follow-up will take
      place one month after the last session of the study. Psychosocial interventions applied to
      patients with schizophrenia help patients to increase their level of well-being and quality
      of life, to decrease negative and positive symptoms by increasing social functionality, to
      participate in social life, to be an autonomous individual and to prevent stigma. In line
      with psychosocial interventions, it is thought that the this program to be applied to the
      patients in this study will basically contribute to the individual patients' ability to
      recognize their emotions, discuss their emotions, regulate their emotion intensities, and
      express their emotions. Due to the impact that this program will have on the individual, it
      is believed that it will have positive results not only for schizophrenia patients, but also
      for the individuals with whom the patients interact, their relatives and even the society.
    

Intervention name(s): Emotions Recognition and Expression
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Emotion recognition and expression program consisting of 8 sessions will be used. In this program, patients will have the opportunity to describe their emotions, explain emotions that are difficult to express such as anger, sadness, shame, guilt, and discuss the consequences of suppressed emotions.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Care Provider, Investigator)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Alexithymia; Schizophrenia; Emotion, Expressed