Psychodrama Group Therapy for Breakup Distress and Relationship Adjustment: A Randomized Trial

Romantic relationship breakups are common life events that may have substantial emotionaland relational consequences. While many individuals adapt successfully over time, somecontinue to experience unresolved breakup distress characterized by persistent emotionalsuffering, difficulties processing the loss, and challenges integrating the experienceinto their personal and relational lives. Emerging evidence suggests that unresolveddistress following a previous romantic breakup may negatively affect the quality ofsubsequent romantic relationships, including communication, intimacy, trust, emotionalregulation, and overall dyadic adjustment.Despite increasing recognition of the psychological and relational impact of romanticbreakups, there is a limited evidence base regarding interventions specifically designedto address unresolved breakup distress. Furthermore, randomized controlled trialsevaluating psychodrama interventions in this context remain scarce. Psychodrama is anexperiential and action‐oriented psychotherapy approach developed by Jacob Levy Morenothat uses dramatization, role‐playing, role reversal, and other action methods tofacilitate emotional expression, interpersonal insight, and behavioral change. Throughthe exploration of past and present relational experiences, psychodrama may helpindividuals process unresolved emotions associated with previous relationships, recognizemaladaptive relational patterns, and develop more adaptive ways of relating in currentrelationships.The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a manualized psychodramagroup therapy program for adults currently involved in romantic relationships whocontinue to experience unresolved distress related to a significant previous breakup. Theintervention was developed based on psychodramatic theory and clinical practice andfocuses on emotional processing of previous relationship losses, exploration ofattachment and relational patterns, enhancement of emotional communication, strengtheningof intimacy and trust, and promotion of healthier dyadic functioning in current romanticrelationships.This study employs a randomized controlled design comparing a psychodrama group therapyintervention with a waiting‐list control condition. The intervention consists of 15weekly group sessions delivered in a closed‐group format by trained psychodramapractitioners. Sessions follow the traditional psychodramatic structure of warm‐up,dramatization, and sharing and progressively address themes including relational history,attachment experiences, breakup distress, grief processes, self‐esteem, emotionalcommunication, jealousy, emotional security, relational repair, intimacy, and relationalrole reconstruction.In addition to evaluating clinical outcomes, the study aims to contribute to themethodological development of psychodrama research by implementing a structuredintervention protocol and examining both quantitative and qualitative indicators oftherapeutic change. Findings from this trial may contribute to a better understanding ofthe role of psychodrama in addressing unresolved breakup distress and promoting healthierfunctioning in subsequent romantic relationships. The results may also inform thedevelopment of evidence‐based interventions targeting the long‐term emotional andrelational consequences of romantic relationship dissolution.