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Cognitive Behavioural Couple Intervention Therapy for Chinese Couples With a Depressed Partner

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) logo

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status

Not yet enrolling

Conditions

Depression

Treatments

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), Emotion focused couple therapy (EFCT), Wait-list control (Control)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

Details and patient eligibility

About

Understanding depression from a relational perspective maybe more meaningful in Chinese culture due to the different values and beliefs among Chinese comparing to those of the Western cultures. The PI and his associates developed a Cognitive Behavioural Couple Therapy model for Chinese couples with a depressed partner receiving mental health services in a community mental health centre in Hong Kong between 2018 and 2019. With consideration of the limitations in a pilot study conducted by the PI, modifications are made in the current study. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural couple therapy model for Chinese couples with a depressed partner in Hong Kong. A comparison approach involving cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), emotional focused couple therapy (EFCT) and a wait-list control group on their short-term and long-term effects, as well as differential benefits will be examined.

A set of questionnaires will be filled out by the 135 participants (45 in each arm) before the intervention (T0), after the intervention (T1), and 6-month after the intervention (T2). It is hypothesized that comparing to the control group, participants in CBCT and EFCT conditions will have greater improvements in outcomes at T1 and T2. There will be differential therapeutic effects of CBCT and EFCT on the various outcomes. Different mediating effects behind the changes in the outcomes in the two conditions will be examined.

The study will contribute to the current literature by evaluating the effectiveness of culturally-attuned CBCT and EFCT. New insights will be added to the current therapeutic approaches for couples with a depressed partner.

A sets of questionnaires will be assessed before the intervention (T0), after the intervention (T1), and 6-month after the intervention (T2). It is hypothesized that comparing to the control group, participants in CBCT and EFCT conditions will have greater improvements in outcomes at T1 and T2. Also, they may receive differential therapeutic effects of CBCT and EFCT on different outcomes. Different mediating effects behind the changes in the outcomes will be examined.

The study will contribute to the current literature by evaluating the effectiveness of culturally-attuned CBCT and EFCT. Insights may be provide to the current therapeutic approach for couples with depressed partners.

Enrollment

135 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Chinese couples aged 18 to 65
  • Able to understand Cantonese or Chinese
  • One of the couples having a diagnosis of DSM-V Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Exclusion criteria

  • Neurological disease or damage that would compromise cognitive functioning
  • Suicidal attempts or ideation in the past 3 months

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Double Blind

135 participants in 3 patient groups

CBCT
Experimental group
Description:
Cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), 5-session
Treatment:
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), Emotion focused couple therapy (EFCT), Wait-list control (Control)
EFCT
Experimental group
Description:
Emotion focused couple therapy (EFCT), 5-session
Treatment:
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), Emotion focused couple therapy (EFCT), Wait-list control (Control)
Control
Active Comparator group
Description:
Social activity wait-list groups (Control), 5-session
Treatment:
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), Emotion focused couple therapy (EFCT), Wait-list control (Control)

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Central trial contact

Fu Keung Daniel Wong, PhD

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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