An interventional study of Systemic Couple Therapy in Depression, sponsored by Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-30.
Sponsored by Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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:
Participants will:
8,577 studies on the registry are indexed under Depression; 1,720 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 48 is below the median of 81 across 7,063 interventional studies indexed under Depression.
Browse Depression studies →Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University is the lead sponsor of 27 studies on the registry; 10 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria:
Inclusion criteria
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.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Systemic Couple Therapy
Behavioral: Systemic Couple Therapy
Treatment As Usual
Systemic Couple Therapy for Depressive Sample
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mental Health
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).
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.
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Aug 2026; primary completion for Oct 2026, 2 months later.
Of 3,468 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Depression, half reached primary completion within 21 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 41. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 3,566 studies reached it within 21 months; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 41.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University