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

NCT ID: NCT04590573

Last Updated: 2022-05-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 135 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-12-31

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Depression

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

CBCT

Cognitive behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), 5-session

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

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

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

5 sessions in CBCT, EFCT and Control (3 hours per session), 6-8 pairs of couples per group and around 7 groups will be held.

EFCT

Emotion focused couple therapy (EFCT), 5-session

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

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

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

5 sessions in CBCT, EFCT and Control (3 hours per session), 6-8 pairs of couples per group and around 7 groups will be held.

Control

Social activity wait-list groups (Control), 5-session

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

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

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

5 sessions in CBCT, EFCT and Control (3 hours per session), 6-8 pairs of couples per group and around 7 groups will be held.

Interventions

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

5 sessions in CBCT, EFCT and Control (3 hours per session), 6-8 pairs of couples per group and around 7 groups will be held.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Chinese University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

City University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

York University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Professor Daniel Fu-Keung Wong

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Fu Keung Daniel Wong, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong

Locations

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Countries

Hong Kong

Central Contacts

Fu Keung Daniel Wong, PhD

Role: CONTACT

dfkwong@hku.hk

(+852) 3917 2287

Facility Contacts

Fu Keung Daniel Wong, PhD

Role: primary

dfkwong@hku.hk

(+852) 3917 2287

Other Identifiers

CBCT

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id