Systemic Couple Therapy for Enhancement of Marital Dynamics and Mental Health Among Individuals With Depression: A Mixed Method Approach
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 尚未招募
- 入组人数
- 48
- 主要终点
- Relationship Quality
研究概览
简要总结
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)
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 60 Years（Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •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.
排除标准
- •• 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.
结局指标
主要结局
Relationship Quality
时间窗: 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.
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).
次要结局
- Depression(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(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(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(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(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.)
研究者
Tamkeen Saleem
Professor of Clinical Psychology
Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University