Exploring the Suitability of Movement and Sound in Couple Therapy: A Proof-of-Concept Trial

University Medicine Greifswald

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: Music-based couple therapy.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04830553

SONIFY

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present phase-IIA waiting-list controlled proof-of-concept trial aims to explore the adequacy of immediate sound feedback for physical distance and touch between individuals as a potential means to complement existing methods in couple therapy. The results obtained will determine the design of a subsequent phase-IIB randomized controlled trial.

Full description

According to early 20th century psychoanalysis, the "unsaid" becomes apparent in the relationship between patient and therapist, as well as in metaphors and symbols revealed through unintended utterances, imaginative techniques, and dreams. To convey emotions and thoughts, this method relies on the use of spoken language. Likewise, spoken language remains central to the practice of psychotherapy in subsequent decades, as clinicians and researchers sought to translate and transform major claims of psychoanalysis into newer paradigms, the most prominent of them being cognitive-behavioral, client-centered and family-systems psychotherapy. Inspired by somatic psychology and neuroscience evidence, more recent approaches focus on body and movement to target the "unsaid" beyond spoken language. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the "Sentire" project attempts to provide immediate sound feedback for physical distance and touch between individuals (www.sentire.me). The present phase-IIA waiting-list controlled proof-of-concept trial aims to explore the adequacy of "Sentire" as a potential means to complement existing methods in couple therapy. The results obtained will determine the design of a subsequent phase-IIB randomized controlled trial.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• In couple relationship for at least six months;
• Living in shared household or close daily contact.

Exclusion criteria

• Currently acute episode of any mental disorder.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Music-based couple therapy.

Experimental group

Description:

Each couple will receive five treatment sessions, including established methods from client-centered and family-systems psychotherapy as well as "Sentire," a technological approach providing immediate sound feedback for physical distance and touch. Duration of the treatment phase: five weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Music-based couple therapy.

Waiting list.

No Intervention group

Description:

Each couple will go through an initial waiting period before the treatment phase. Duration of the waiting period: five weeks.