MedPath

The Impact of Psychological Interventions on Psychometric and Immunological Measures in Patients With Major Depression

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Depression
Interventions
Behavioral: CBT - euthymic
Behavioral: CBASP
Behavioral: CBT - active
Registration Number
NCT01464463
Lead Sponsor
Philipps University Marburg Medical Center
Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to compare the impact of i) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) combined with exercise, ii)CBT combined with euthymic therapy, and iii) 'Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy' (CBASP) on psychometric and immunological measures in patients with major depression.

Detailed Description

The interest of the investigation is to compare the impact of CBT combined with exercise, CBT combined with euthymic therapy and CBASP on depression and further psychopathological variables (assessed at 5 points).

Previous findings indicate increased concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in depression. A bidirectional relationship between depression and immunological alterations has been suggested: On the one hand pro-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to depression, on the other hand depression-linked changes (e.g. a reduction of activity, increased stress-sensitivity) may lead to increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, this study is also supposed to investigate the influence of above mentioned interventions on pro-inflammatory cytokines. Using a waiting group, potential changes in psychometric and biological parameters without any intervention are controlled. Assessments take place at baseline, after 4 weeks of treatment, after 8 weeks of treatment, after 16 weeks of treatment and 6 months follow up.

200 patients with Major Depression (DSM IV, BDI II at baseline ≥18) will be included. Patients will be randomized and assigned to one of the 4 groups.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
200
Inclusion Criteria
  • patients with Major Depression (DSM IV), BDI >=18
  • age:18-65 years
  • patients with and without antidepressive medication
  • comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders is permitted, as far as depressive symptoms are dominating
Exclusion Criteria
  • current psychotherapy
  • psychotic disorder
  • serious drug-addiction
  • drugs which seriously affect immune status (except contraceptives) or central nervous system functions (except antidepressants)
  • infections during the last 2 weeks
  • injuries during the last 2 weeks
  • neurological disorders
  • diseases which affect immune status or central nervous system functions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, CVD,etc.)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
CBT-euthymicCBT - euthymicPatients with Major Depression (N = 50) get the same common CBT treatment as the CBT-active-group, but instead of physical exercise they receive an enjoyment training, which is based on exercises from the "Kleine Schule des Genießens" (Koppenhöfer, 2004)
CBASPCBASPPatients with Major Depression (N=50) get a cognitive therapy according to the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP).
CBT-activeCBT - activePatients with Major Depression (N = 50) get a common CBT treatment in combination with physical exercise.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in severity of depressive symptoms from baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow upFrom baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow up

Becks Depression Inventory II (BDI-II; german adaptation by Hautzinger, Kühner \& Keller, 2006)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in self-rated physical activity from baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow upFrom baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow up

Internationational Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ, Granger et al., 2000)

Changes in immunological measures from baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow upFrom baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow up

C-reactive protein, inflammatory markers(Il-6, TNF-alpha, INF-gamma, IL-1ra, sTNF-RI, sTNF-RII) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (Il-10)

Changes in psychopathological variables from baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow upFrom baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow up

Symptom-Checklist by Derogatis (SCL-90-R; german adaption by Franke, 1995)

Changes from baseline to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy)From baseline to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy)

Verbal test for learning- and memory abilities (Verbaler Lern- und Merkfähigkeitstest-VLMT; Helmstaedter, Lendt, Lux, 2001)

Changes in perceived stress from baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow upFrom baseline (beginning of therapy) to 4 weeks after baseline, to 8 weeks after baseline, to 16 weeks after baseline (end of therapy) to 6-month-follow up

Trier inventary for chronic stress (TICS-K; Trierer Inventar zu chronischen Stress; Schulz et al., 2004)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg

🇩🇪

Marburg, Germany

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath