Clinical Research Directory

Comparing Brief Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy in Reducing Relationship Distress

This study compares the effects of two different couple therapy approaches-Brief Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy (BPCT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)-on reducing relationship problems and emotional symptoms like depression and anxiety. Many couples struggle with emotional distance, repeated arguments, and dissatisfaction in their relationships. While EFT is a widely used and research-supported therapy that focuses on rebuilding emotional bonds, BPCT is a less-studied method that aims to help couples understand how early relationship experiences and unconscious patterns affect their current interactions. The purpose of this study is to find out whether one of these therapies is more effective than the other in improving relationship satisfaction and reducing emotional distress. The study also looks at changes in how people regulate their emotions and how secure they feel in their relationships after therapy. In this randomized controlled trial, 60 heterosexual couples experiencing relationship distress and symptoms of anxiety or depression will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: BPCT group - couples receive weekly online therapy focusing on deep emotional and psychological patterns in their relationship. EFT group - couples receive weekly online therapy focusing on emotional connection and improving communication. Waitlist control group - couples do not receive therapy during the study but will be offered therapy afterward. Each therapy lasts 12 weeks, and follow-up assessments will be conducted up to 6 months after therapy ends. Data will be collected before, during, and after treatment using questionnaires that measure relationship satisfaction, depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, and attachment style. The results of this study will help determine which type of therapy is more beneficial for couples experiencing emotional and relational difficulties and may provide important insights for mental health professionals working with distressed couples.

Emotional Freedom Techniques and Virtual Reality Application for Fear of Childbirth

Fear of labour in primiparous pregnant women is an important factor that directly affects the mother-infant relationship and the mental health of the mother. In this process, it is common for expectant mothers to experience feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about labour. Such intense fear of birth may weaken maternal attachment and make it difficult for her to establish a healthy emotional relationship with her baby. In addition, this fear may negatively affect the mother's mental well-being and increase the risk of depression and anxiety. In this context, emotional liberation techniques (EFT) and virtual reality (VR) applications stand out as effective nonpharmacological methods used to reduce fear of childbirth in primiparous pregnant women. EFT is a technique that provides relaxation by touching the energy meridians that help the person to regulate negative emotions and cope with stress. SG, on the other hand, allows expectant mothers to interact with simulations similar to the real world in a virtual environment, providing therapeutic benefits through distraction, stress reduction and cognitive restructuring, allowing them to manage their fears about birth and enter the process more prepared. The use of SLT and SG, especially for primiparous pregnant women, can alleviate these women's anxiety about childbirth and enable them to approach the process in a safer and more conscious manner. Thus, it may also help to reduce the negative effects on the mother's postnatal attachment and mental health. This study aims to examine the effects of SLT and SG practices on fear of childbirth, attachment and mental well-being, and to reveal the effects of these two methods on primiparous pregnant women. In this context, this study will fill the gap in the literature by providing a new perspective in clinical practice and antenatal education programmes and will make important contributions to increase antenatal attachment and mental well-being in primiparous pregnancy.

The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Intervention and Haptonomy Application on Birth Self-Efficacy, Prenatal Attachment and Anxiety Levels of Pregnant Women With Fear of ChildBirth

Fear of childbirth is a common condition encountered during pregnancy. Women with fear of childbirth have reduced birth self-efficacy, and it leads to mental health problems in the prenatal and postnatal periods, reducing mother-infant bonding. Therefore, it is of critical importance to implement effective and applicable interventions focused on health and well-being to reduce fear of childbirth. Considering the increasing cesarean section rates today, holistic intervention strategies that can positively affect the birth experiences of pregnant women and support their psychological well-being are needed. In this sense, mindfulness and haptonomy applications, which are holistic intervention strategies, will allow us to meet the psychological and emotional needs of pregnant women with fear of childbirth and improve their birth experiences. No study has been found in the literature that systematically evaluates the effects of a holistic intervention strategy for women with fear of childbirth during pregnancy. This study will enable the development of new and effective intervention strategies that can be used in prenatal and postnatal care practices and will guide clinical practices to make pregnant women's birth experiences more positive. In this study, the effects of mindfulness-based intervention and haptonomy application on childbirth self-efficacy, prenatal attachment and anxiety levels in pregnant women experiencing fear of childbirth will be evaluated. This research will be conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study. The data of the research will consist of 225 women (75 in the mindfulness group, 75 in the haptonomy group, and 75 in the control group) who applied to the Erzurum City Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between 01.06.2024 and 01.07.2025. The data will be collected face to face using the "Personal Information Form", "Wijma Childbirth Expectation/Experience Scale Version A", "Prenatal Attachment Inventory", and "State Anxiety Scale".

Baby Swim As an Intervention for Depressive Symptoms and Lacking Attachment During the Postpartum Period

Mental health issues are very common during and after pregnancy, and studies from around the world indicate that 10-15% of all pregnant and postpartum women experience depression. Risk factors for developing depression include a history of depression, low levels of social support, and stressful life events. The symptoms are the same as for depression during other periods of life, but often include feelings of inadequacy regarding motherhood, along with associated feelings of shame or guilt. Obsessive thoughts directed toward the baby may also be part of the symptomatology. Such thoughts are typically experienced as frightening by the mother but, in the vast majority of cases, do not pose any risk to the child. Maternal depression can also affect a mother's ability to bond with her baby, and difficulties in forming an attachment can, in turn, increase and perpetuate depressive symptoms. In the long term, insecure attachment between mother and child can lead to behavioral problems in the child, such as aggression and avoidance, anxiety and depression in adolescence, negative effects on cognitive development, and trust issues in close relationships. Baby swimming is a structured form of interaction that takes place in 34-degree Celsius water in a calm environment, aiming to teach the baby vital skills while stimulating social, intellectual, and motor development. At least one parent actively participates and is encouraged to perform various exercises. These activities strengthen the bond between the baby and the parent and contribute to making time in the water a safe and enjoyable experience. Previous studies have shown that baby swimming can improve attachment between parent and child. In the present project, the aim is to investigate whether baby swimming can be used as an intervention for depressive symptoms in new mothers and whether this intervention can reduce depressive symptoms while also strengthening the bond between mother and child.

Development of 'My Breastfeeding Guide' Mobile Nursing Application

The research was planned to develop the "My Breastfeeding Guide" mobile nursing application, which was developed based on Dennis' Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory and Pender's Health Promotion Model, and to determine its effect on the postpartum breastfeeding process, breastfeeding self-efficacy, infant feeding and attachment. The research is in randomized controlled experimental and longitudinal (prospective) design. The research will be carried out with pregnant women who applied to Famagusta State Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic and a pregnant polyclinic of a private hospital in Famagusta. Pregnant women who applied to Famagusta State Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic and private hospital's pregnancy polyclinic and met the inclusion criteria of the study will constitute the population of the research. The research will be designed in two groups as the mobile nursing practice group (intervention) and standard care group (control) developed based on Dennis's Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory and Pender's Health Promotion Model. By calculating the sample size in the research, 44 people in the intervention group and 44 people in the control group will reach a total of 88 people. Pregnant Identification Form, Maternal Information Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Short Form Scale (Postnatal Form), Antenatal Self-Efficacy Short Form Scale, Infant Nutrition Attitude Scale, Breastfeeding Rating Scale, Maternal Attachment Scale and Breastfeeding Self-assessment Form will be used to collect data. Statistical analyzes of the data obtained from the research will be made using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 20.0 package program. While evaluating the research data, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median, variance analysis from descriptive statistical methods will be used. For homogeneity test between intervention and control groups, the Chi-square test for categorical variables, Mann Whitney test for numerical variables, and sociodemographic variables (age, education status, employment status of himself and his spouse, income level, etc.) and whether the groups are similar in terms of some characteristics. U test will be used. The conformity of the scale scores to the normal distribution will be evaluated with the Shapiro-Wilk test. The results will be evaluated at the 95% confidence level, and the significance at the p\<0.05 level.