An interventional study of Supportive-expressive treatment in Major Depressive Disorder, sponsored by University of Haifa. Recruiting at 1 site in Israel. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-24.
Sponsored by University of Haifa · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to establish synchrony as an individual-specific mechanism of therapeutic change and offers novel insights into the mechanisms of curative interpersonal processes. The study identifies individual-specific trait-like synchrony signature and investigates the associations between synchrony signature, the individual's trait-like characteristics, and mental health, among participants diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. The study further investigates how deterministic the trait-like synchrony signature is by identifying for whom, how, and when changes are anticipated. Additionally, it examines whether synchrony signature transfers to relationships with the therapist, whether and how it changes throughout treatment, and whether such potential changes are associated with improvements in mental health. Synchrony is recognized as a key driver of collaborative, affiliative, and curative relationships. While its potential role in improving mental health through interpersonal relationships has sparked growing interest, particularly in psychotherapy, the field is at a crossroads, with mixed findings challenging the widespread theoretical assumption that "more synchrony is better." This study introduces a personalized framework that emphasizes individual-specific synchrony signatures, shifting from generalized assumptions to tailored understanding and interventions. The study explores how synchrony can transform relationships into curative ones by leveraging individual-tailored changes in synchrony signatures in psychotherapy. The potential impact is vast. Tailoring synchrony to individual-specific signatures represents a paradigm shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to personalized interventions. This personalized framework could revolutionize mental health care by facilitating the development of targeted strategies that enhance treatment outcomes.
2,741 studies on the registry are indexed under Depressive Disorder, Major; 559 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 78 is close to the median of 80 across 2,283 interventional studies indexed under Depressive Disorder, Major.
Browse Depressive Disorder, Major studies →University of Haifa is the lead sponsor of 101 studies on the registry; 25 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will receive supportive-expressive therapy for depressive disorder for 16 weeks.
Behavioral: Supportive-expressive treatment
Participants will wait for treatment for 16 weeks. After the waiting the participants will receive in a supportive-expressive treatment for depressive disorder for 16 weeks.
Sixteen weeks of a time-limited psychodynamic therapy adapted for depression that includes the use of expressive techniques, such as interpretation, confrontation, clarification and the use of supportive techniques, such as affirmation and empathic validation. This treatment postulates insight as its core mechanism of change.
Weekly change in Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD)
A 17-item clinically administered measure assessing the severity of depression. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 0 (don't have) to 4 (sever) or 0 (don't have) to 2 (sever). The total score ranges between 0 and 52, where higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Time frame: Measured at baseline and every week for 16 weeks of treatment
Weekly change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
A 21-item, self-rated scale that evaluates key symptoms of depression. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 0 (don't have) to 3 (sever). The total score ranges between 0 and 63, where higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Time frame: Measured at baseline, every week for 16 weeks of treatment, then once a month for four months and follow up after a year.
Weekly change in Outcome Questionnaire (OQ)
A 30 items self-report measure designed to assess patient therapy outcomes on three primary dimensions: (a) subjective discomfort, (b) interpersonal relationships, and (c) social role performance. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (almost always). The total score ranges between 0 and 120, where higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Time frame: Measured at baseline, every week for 16 weeks of treatment, then once a month for four months and follow up after a year.
Trajectories of change in Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction- Short Version (Q-LES-Q)
A 16-item self report measure designed to assess quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). The total score ranges between 16 and 80, where higher scores indicate better outcome.
Time frame: Measured at baseline, six times during the treatment (weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16), then once a month for four months and follow up after a year.
Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire (ECR)
A 36-item self-report measure designed to assess adult attachment styles. The measurement data will be aggregated into two sub-scales: anxiety and avoidance. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The total score on each subscale ranges between 18 and 126, where higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Time frame: Measured at baseline, six times during the treatment (weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16), then once a month for four months and follow up after a year.
Trajectories of change in Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32)
A 32-item self-report measure designed to assess interpersonal problems. Each item is rated in terms of how distressing the problem is for the individual on a scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). The total score ranges between 0 and 128, where higher scores indicate higher interpersonal problems, worse outcome.
Time frame: Measured at baseline, six times during the treatment (weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16), then once a month for four months and follow up after a year.
Plan to share: No — Data will not be shared due to ethical reasons.
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University of Haifa