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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07378150

Clay Therapy in Schizophrenia Patients

In recent years, art therapies have been discussed for their positive effects on mental disorders. One such therapy, clay therapy, is being studied to examine its effect on the functional recovery and individual and social performance of schizophrenia patients undergoing pharmacological treatment.

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Key information

Conditions

Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Mental Disorders Schizophrenia Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kutahya Health Sciences University

Kütahya, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Schizophrenia is a chronic illness that can manifest in various forms, ranging from symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations to functional impairments, and is often characterised by relapses.

The care of people with schizophrenia concerns all sectors of society, including families, healthcare professionals, and organisations providing psychosocial support. The treatment of schizophrenia is of great importance due to its potential for early onset and its status as one of the most common psychiatric disorders leading to functional impairment.

While pharmacological treatments support a large part of the treatment process, the effect of art therapy on preventing disability and treatment compliance and disease awareness is the subject of current studies. Clay therapy, a component of art therapy, has been used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, especially in recent years. Studies have highlighted the therapeutic aspects of clay. When examining the therapeutic properties of clay, it is seen to provide benefits in the following areas:

  • Facilitating the expression of emotions,
  • Bringing unconscious material to the surface,
  • Facilitating rich and deep expression,
  • Facilitating verbal communication,
  • Concretisation and symbolisation. This study aims to examine the effect of clay therapy on the functional recovery and individual and social performance of schizophrenia patients.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Having been diagnosed with schizophrenia,
  • Being aged 18 or over,
  • Having completed at least primary school education,
  • Having achieved treatment compliance,
  • Currently undergoing pharmacological treatment,
  • Being in remission,
  • Having attended the Community Mental Health Centre regularly over the past year,
  • Having agreed to participate in the study
  • Scoring 20 points or higher on the Mini Mental State Examination

Exclusion criteria

  • Being under 18 years of age,
  • Not having an education,
  • Not having a diagnosis of schizophrenia,
  • Not adhering to treatment,
  • Not taking pharmacological treatment regularly,
  • Being in an acute attack/active phase,
  • Lacking insight

Treatment and study plan

Clay therapy

Other

Experimental: Clay therapy group

Primary outcomes

  1. Functional Recovery Scale for Schizophrenia Patients

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    This is a 5-point Likert-type scale consisting of 19 items that assesses improvements in functionality independent of the symptoms of the disease. Level 1 (absent) indicates the lowest level of improvement, while Level 5 (present to a high degree) corresponds to the 'ideal' level of function. Level 2 (partially present), Level 3 (sufficiently present) and Level 4 (almost completely present) are also included. When two levels are between, the lower level is selected. The maximum score that can be obtained from the scale is 95, and the minimum score is 19. The scale, which consists of subscales for daily living skills, social functioning, and health and treatment, measures functional improvement in three separate areas.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Individual and Social Performance Scale

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    This scale, scored from 1 to 100, is conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the level of functionality is determined through a sequential assessment across four dimensions: socially beneficial activities, individual and social relationships, self-care, and disruptive and aggressive behaviours. After each dimension is assessed, it is scored between 0 and 10 points based on the degree of impairment in that dimension.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kutahya Health Sciences University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Clay Therapy on Functional Improvement and Individual and Social Performance in Schizophrenic Patients

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 30, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 28, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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