Systemic Couple Therapy for Marital Dynamics and Mental Health
ConditionDepression
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-60
SponsorShifa Tameer-e-Millat University
About this trial
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)
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
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.
Disqualifiers
• 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.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Systemic Couple Therapy
BehavioralSystemic Couple Therapy for Depressive Sample
Treatment groups
48 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Systemic Couple TherapyExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: TAUNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Relationship Quality
Relationship quality will be measured using the Relationship Quality Scale, a 9-item self-report questionnaire assessing participants' perceptions of the quality of their current relationship. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Total scores range from 9 to 45, with higher scores indicating better relationship quality. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (August) after enrollment, post-intervention (8-weeks )(September), and the 3-month follow-up (December).
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 outcomes
1
Depression
Depression severity will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a 9-item self-report questionnaire assessing the frequency of depressive symptoms experienced during the previous two weeks. Each item is scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (August) after enrollment, post-intervention (8-weeks )(September), and the 3-month follow-up (December).
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.2
Marital Communication
Marital communication is defined as the verbal and nonverbal sharing of information among spouses. Marital communication will be assessed using the Dyadic Communication Assessment Scale. The scale consists of 16 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). Total scores range from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating better and more effective marital communication. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (August) after enrollment, post-intervention (8-weeks )(September), and the 3-month follow-up (December).
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.3
Dyadic coping
Dyadic coping is the process by which couple assist each other when one or both are under stress. Dyadic coping will be assessed using the Dyadic Coping Inventory. The inventory consists of 37 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very rarely) to 5 (very often). Total scores range from 37 to 185, with higher scores indicating more effective dyadic coping between partners. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (August) after enrollment, post-intervention (8-weeks )(September), and the 3-month follow-up (December).
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.4
Interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal relationships will be assessed using the Interpersonal Relationships Rating Scale. The scale consists of 18 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (completely inconsistent) to 5 (completely consistent). Total scores range from 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating better interpersonal relationships and interpersonal functioning. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (August) after enrollment, post-intervention (8-weeks )(September), and the 3-month follow-up (December).
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.Locations
Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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