Effectiveness of psychodrama on mental health outcomes based on Chinese samples: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

Background: Psychodrama (PD), supported by extensive global research, is increasingly becoming a vital method for alleviating psychological symptoms and promoting mental well-being in diverse populations across China. However, comprehensive evidence based on rigorous interventions is currently lacking.

Methods: This article systematically reviews the literature on randomized controlled experimental intervention studies of PD in the Chinese Mainland from 1982 to 2023.

Findings: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, this article included seven studies (N = 332, 25 effect sizes). The results demonstrate that PD interventions have a promotional effect (standardized mean difference SMD = 0.768, 95% CI [0.591, 0.946]) across different age groups and settings in randomized controlled trial interventions. In accordance with previous literature, we categorized the effect sizes into two major groups: illness reduction (IR) and health promotion (HP). Subgroup analysis based on these two categories revealed consistent findings. In the IR category, the overall effect size was notably significant (SMD = -0.711, 95% CI [-0.976, -0.446]), and in the HP category, the overall effect was also highly significant (SMD = 0.889, 95% CI [0.705, 1.074]). This finding aligns with previous research in other nations, supporting the significant effectiveness of PD as a counseling method in alleviating psychological illnesses and promoting mental health within the Chinese context.

Conclusion: PD serves not only as a therapeutic tool but also as a preventive and developmental intervention. Moving forward, there is a call for increased emphasis on standardized and randomized controlled experimental studies to further the advancement of PD within China.