TY  - EJOU
AU  - Wang, Xiaohui 
AU  - Liu, Aiqin 
AU  - Ma, Zechun 
AU  - Lai, Nien-Hwa 
AU  - Ding, Rui 

TI  - From Fragmentation to Integration: A Multi-Site Pilot Study of Psychodrama in Chinese University Mental Health Systems
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  - <b>Objectives:</b> Chinese higher education faces rising depression rates amidst fragmented campus mental health services. This pilot study examined the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of implementing a standardized psychodrama program across multiple university sites. <b>Methods:</b> This single-arm study was conducted across three Beijing universities from September 2024 to January 2025. A total of 27 undergraduates completed an 8-week psychodrama intervention program comprising weekly 2.5-h sessions. A unified protocol was ensured through centralized facilitator training and cross-site supervision. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline, post-intervention, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. Retention rates were 93.8% at post-intervention and 84.4% at both follow-up assessments. <b>Results:</b> Significant reductions in Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) scores were observed from baseline to post-intervention and follow-ups, with scores decreasing from a baseline median of 13.00 [9.50–21.50] (mean ± Standard Deviation = 14.67 ± 8.73) to 5.00 [3.50–10.50] (7.11 ± 5.87) at post-intervention (<i>p</i><sub>adj</sub> &lt; 0.001, r = 0.817). Friedman tests confirmed significant temporal declines across all sites (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). At the individual level, 37.0% of participants achieved a ≥50% BDI-II reduction at post-intervention, and 29.6% at 6-month follow-up. Improvement to minimal depression (BDI-II ≤ 13 from baseline ≥14) was achieved by 33.3% at post-intervention and 22.2% at 6 months. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study demonstrated the feasibility of a standardized, multi-site psychodrama framework in Chinese university settings and provided preliminary evidence of symptom reduction from baseline to post-intervention, with reductions sustained through 6-month follow-up. These findings support further controlled trials to evaluate efficacy and sustainability.
KW  - Psychodrama; multi-site study; depression; college students; mental health system

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078910