Systemic Couple Therapy for Marital Dynamics and Mental Health
2026年7月25日 更新者：Tamkeen Saleem、Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University
Systemic Couple Therapy for Enhancement of Marital Dynamics and Mental Health Among Individuals With Depression: A Mixed Method Approach
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)
研究概览
研究类型
介入性
注册 (估计的)
48
阶段
- 不适用
联系人和位置
本节提供了进行研究的人员的详细联系信息，以及有关进行该研究的地点的信息。
学习联系方式
- 姓名：Tamkeen Saleem, Phd
- 电话号码：923325412281
- 邮箱：tamkeen.dcp@stmu.edu.pk
参与标准
研究人员寻找符合特定描述的人，称为资格标准。这些标准的一些例子是一个人的一般健康状况或先前的治疗。
资格标准
适合学习的年龄
- 成人
接受健康志愿者
不
描述
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.
学习计划
本节提供研究计划的详细信息，包括研究的设计方式和研究的衡量标准。
研究是如何设计的？
设计细节
- 主要用途：治疗
- 分配：随机化
- 介入模型：并行分配
- 屏蔽：三倍
武器和干预
参与者组/臂 |
干预/治疗 |
|---|---|
|
实验性的：Systemic Couple Therapy
|
Systemic Couple Therapy for Depressive Sample
|
|
无干预：TAU
Treatment As Usual
|
研究衡量的是什么？
主要结果指标
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
|
Relationship Quality
大体时间：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).
|
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.
|
次要结果测量
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
|
Depression
大体时间：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.
|
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).
|
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
大体时间：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 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).
|
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
大体时间：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 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).
|
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
大体时间：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 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).
|
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
大体时间：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 will be measured using the Mental Health Inventory-38, a 38-item self-report questionnaire that assesses overall psychological well-being and psychological distress experienced during the previous month.
Responses are recorded using 5-point or 6-point response options depending on the item, and scores are summed to produce a Mental Health Index ranging from 38 to 226.
Higher scores indicate better overall mental health, reflecting greater psychological well-being and lower psychological distress.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline (August) after enrollment, post-intervention (8-weeks )(September), and the 3-month follow-up (December).
|
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.
|
合作者和调查者
在这里您可以找到参与这项研究的人员和组织。
研究记录日期
这些日期跟踪向 ClinicalTrials.gov 提交研究记录和摘要结果的进度。研究记录和报告的结果由国家医学图书馆 (NLM) 审查，以确保它们在发布到公共网站之前符合特定的质量控制标准。
研究主要日期
学习开始 (估计的)
2026年8月1日
初级完成 (估计的)
2026年10月1日
研究完成 (估计的)
2026年12月31日
研究注册日期
首次提交
2026年7月19日
首先提交符合 QC 标准的
2026年7月25日
首次发布 (实际的)
2026年7月30日
研究记录更新
最后更新发布 (实际的)
2026年7月30日
上次提交的符合 QC 标准的更新
2026年7月25日
最后验证
2026年7月1日
更多信息
此信息直接从 clinicaltrials.gov 网站检索，没有任何更改。如果您有任何更改、删除或更新研究详细信息的请求，请联系 register@clinicaltrials.gov. clinicaltrials.gov 上实施更改，我们的网站上也会自动更新.