“Ginemotion”: A pilot randomized controlled study of a group cinematherapy intervention aimed at reducing psychopathological symptoms in a sample of women with mood and anxiety disorders

Cinematherapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the emotional and symbolic content of films to promote psychological well-being. The present single-center, randomized, controlled pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of a group-based cinematherapy intervention, “Ginemotion”, on psychopathological symptoms (anxiety and depressive symptoms) in women with mood and anxiety disorders. In addition, a secondary exploratory aim was to assess the associations between temperaments and pre-post intervention changes in psychopathological symptoms. Twenty-four women with anxiety or mood disorders were randomly assigned to the experimental group (cinematherapy and standard care) or the control group (standard care only). The intervention consisted of eight monthly film screenings followed by guided discussions focused on emotional themes. Pre (T0) and post-intervention (T1) assessments included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The T0 assessment also included the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire. The results showed a significant main effect of time and a time × group interaction on anxiety and depressive symptoms. Specifically, participants in the experimental group reported significantly lower anxiety and depression scores at T1 compared to T0. In addition, the study suggested that, only within the experimental group, the hyperthymic temperament was associated with greater changes in anxiety symptoms, and the anxious temperament was associated with greater changes in depressive symptoms. The present study supports the feasibility and potential efficacy of a group cinematherapy program as a complementary intervention for women with mood and anxiety disorders. Further research with larger samples is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.