Protocol summary

Study aim
Comparing the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy and integrated transdiagnostic therapy on self-esteem, emotional alexithymia, self-harming behaviors, and cognitive fusion in female students who are victims of domestic violence
Design
This research design uses a control group, with parallel groups, selected through a purposive non-random method, and then, through simple random drawing, 45 people are selected and placed into two experimental groups and one control group. Blinding was not performed.
Settings and conduct
In this semi-experimental study, a pre-test and post-test design with a follow-up phase will be used. The statistical population includes all female students who are victims of domestic violence in the second year of secondary school in Ahvaz, who are selected through a purposive random method through a questionnaire on violence against women. Then, 45 people are divided into two experimental groups and a control group by simple random method, and both intervention methods will be implemented in the Mehregan Clinic.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Age range 15-18 years, having a history of physical, psychological, or emotional violence by parents or caregivers, exclusion criteria: current diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe neurodevelopmental disorders, taking medications such as antidepressants or tranquilizers
Intervention groups
Group 1: Narrative exposure therapy helps people make sense of their own experiences and actions. Group 2: Integrated transdiagnostic therapy. This approach changes emotional self-regulation habits and reduces the frequency and intensity of maladaptive emotional habits, thereby reducing the amount of harm. Group 3: The control group receives no intervention.
Main outcome variables
Self-esteem, emotional alexithymia, self-injurious behaviors, and cognitive fusion

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20260122068635N1
Registration date: 2026-02-16, 1404/11/27
Registration timing: registered_while_recruiting

Last update: 2026-02-16, 1404/11/27
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-02-16, 1404/11/27
Registrant information
Name
Mitra Shamsi
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 3337 7721
Email address
mitra.shamsi@iau.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-02-09, 1404/11/20
Expected recruitment end date
2026-05-10, 1405/02/20
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Comparing the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy and integrated transdiagnostic therapy on self-esteem, emotional alexithymia, self-harming behaviors, and cognitive fusion in female students who are victims of domestic violence
Public title
Comparing the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy and integrated transdiagnostic therapy
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Age range 15 to 18 years Having a history of physical violence from parents and caregivers Having a history of mental or emotional problems from parents or caregivers
Exclusion criteria:
Current diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe neurodevelopmental disorders Taking medications such as antidepressants or tranquilizers
Age
From 15 years old to 18 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size: 45
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Students who are eligible and have the opportunity to cooperate will be selected based on a purposeful non-random method, and among them, 45 students will be selected by simple random method (drawing) and the randomization unit will be the same person, and then they will be divided into three groups (two experimental groups and one control group).
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Farhang Shahr , Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Golestan HighwayBranch,
City
ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Approval date
2026-01-14, 1404/10/24
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.603

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Domestic violence
ICD-10 code
R45.6
ICD-10 code description
Physical violence

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Domestic violence
Timepoint
Before intervention, after intervention, two months after intervention
Method of measurement
The score that the subject will obtain from the Haj-Yahya (2001) Domestic Violence Questionnaire.

2

Description
Self-esteem
Timepoint
Before intervention, after intervention, two months after intervention
Method of measurement
The score that the subject will obtain from the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire (1965).

3

Description
Emotional alexithymia
Timepoint
Before intervention, after intervention, two months after intervention
Method of measurement
It is the score that the subject will obtain from the Bigby et al. (1994) Emotional Alexithymia Questionnaire.

4

Description
Self-harming behaviors
Timepoint
Before intervention, after intervention, two months after intervention
Method of measurement
The score that the subject will obtain from the Sanson et al. (1998) Self-Injurious Behaviors Questionnaire.

5

Description
Cognitive fusion
Timepoint
Before intervention, after intervention, two months after intervention
Method of measurement
The score that the subject will obtain from the cognitive fusion questionnaire of Gillanders et al. (2014).

Secondary outcomes

empty

Intervention groups

1

Description
First intervention group: Narrative exposure therapy, first session: introduction, explanation of the intervention and expectations from the group, introduction of skills, statement of goal, comprehensive assessment, establishment of good relationship, familiarization with narrative therapy, case study, life narrative and description of problematic stories. Second session: objectification and externalization of the problem, naming the problem, identifying problematic words and beginning metaphor-making. Third session: continuation of metaphor-making, examination of problematic metaphors and their relationship with the life narrative and taking a position on the problem, beginning deconstruction. Fourth session: Destruction phase: Destruction of the problem by life exceptions, narrative analysis, attitude towards the problem and the mutual effects of the individual and the problem. Fifth session: Reconstruction: new metaphors, mental representations of life situations with a new metaphor, creation of reality by the individual and beginning narrative-making. Sixth session: Enrichment of the new story using unique strategies, examination of the story and its meaning for the future. Seventh session: Consolidation phase: Living in the new story, answering questions and rewriting. Stories from the past, Session 8: Examining the meaning of life, external documentation, enriching and encouraging the individual to continue the story, conducting a post-test.
Category
Behavior

2

Description
Second intervention group: Session 1: Increasing motivation and engagement with treatment Session 2: Psychological training and tracking of emotional experiences Session 3: Emotional awareness training Session 4: Cognitive reappraisal Session 5: Emotional avoidance and emotion-induced behaviors Session 6: Awareness and tolerance of physical feelings Session 7: Situation-based visceral and emotional confrontation Session 8: Relapse prevention
Category
Behavior

3

Description
Control group: No intervention will be made.
Category
Behavior

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Mehregan Counseling Center
Full name of responsible person
mitra shamsi
Street address
National Drilling Town, No. 18, Fatah 1 Street
City
ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۶۶۶۳۸۳۶۱
Phone
+98 61 3441 0426
Email
artiim.sh@gmail.com

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Pejman Taghipour Birgani
Street address
Farhang Shahr, Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz,Golestan Highway
City
ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8320
Email
p_taghipour@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
mitra shamsi
Position
PhD student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
National Drilling Town, No. 18, Fatah 1 Street
City
ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۶۶۶۳۸۳۶۱
Phone
+98 61 3334 8320
Email
artiim.sh@gmail.com

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Fariba Hafezi
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Farhangshahr, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch
City
ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8320
Email
dr.haffezi@gmail.com

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
mitra shamsi
Position
PhD student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
National Drilling Town, No. 18, Fatah 1 Street
City
ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۶۶۶۳۸۳۶۱
Phone
+98 61 3441 0426
Email
artiim.sh@gmail.com

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
The data information is confidential and I do not intend to publish it.
Study Protocol
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Not applicable
Data Dictionary
Not applicable
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