Menu
Not yet recruiting NCT07736508

Systemic Couple Therapy for Marital Dynamics and Mental Health

No phase Interventional Depression

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Systemic Couple Therapy.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Depression. Basic parameters: 18 years — 60 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Official title

Systemic Couple Therapy for Enhancement of Marital Dynamics and Mental Health Among Individuals With Depression: A Mixed Method Approach

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial (randomized controlled trial within a mixed-method study) is to learn whether Systemic Couple Therapy (SCT) can treat depression and improve relational functioning in married couples where at least one partner is experiencing mild to moderate depression and relational distress. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Systemic Couple Therapy improve relationship quality, marital communication, dyadic coping, interpersonal functioning, and overall mental health? * Does Systemic Couple Therapy reduce depressive symptoms compared to Treatment-as-Usual (TAU)? Researchers will compare Systemic Couple Therapy (intervention group) with Treatment-as-Usual (control group) to see if SCT leads to greater improvements in mental health and relational outcomes and greater reduction in depression. Participants will: * Complete standardized psychological assessments at baseline, post-treatment (8 weeks), and 3-month follow-up * Participate in 8 weekly Systemic Couple Therapy sessions (intervention group) * Receive Treatment-as-Usual such as routine couple therapy services or medication (control group)

Interventions

  • Behavioral Systemic Couple Therapy
    Systemic Couple Therapy for Depressive Sample

Primary outcome measures

  • Relationship Quality [Time frame: Assessed at baseline (after enrollment and prior to intervention), immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention, and 3 months after completion of the intervention.]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
  • Depression [Time frame: Assessed at baseline (after enrollment and prior to intervention), immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention, and 3 months after completion of the intervention.]
  • Marital Communication [Time frame: Assessed at baseline (after enrollment and prior to intervention), immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention, and 3 months after completion of the intervention.]
  • Dyadic coping [Time frame: Assessed at baseline (after enrollment and prior to intervention), immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention, and 3 months after completion of the intervention.]
  • Interpersonal relationships [Time frame: Assessed at baseline (after enrollment and prior to intervention), immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention, and 3 months after completion of the intervention.]
  • Mental Health [Time frame: Assessed at baseline (after enrollment and prior to intervention), immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention, and 3 months after completion of the intervention.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Inclusion criteria
  • Participant must be 18 years or older to participate in the study.
  • At least one partner must meet the diagnostic criteria for depression (mild to moderate) as defined by the DSM-5 TR.
  • Participants must be married for at least a year to ensure adequate context for systemic couple therapy.
  • Both partners must agree to participate in the study, showing their willingness to engage in the intervention and complete all required assessments.

Exclusion criteria

  • • Participants with severe depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or active substance use disorder will be excluded from the study due to potential interference with therapy.
  • Participants currently engaged in ongoing individual psychotherapy during the study period will be excluded to avoid confounding treatment effects.
  • Additionally, couples will be excluded if there is presence of domestic violence or abuse, as identified during the initial screening or clinical interview, to ensure participant safety.
  • Couple who will be undergoing legal separation or divorce proceedings will not be eligible to participate, as the focus of the systemic couple therapy is relational commitment and stability.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07736508 · 484-25

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗