Can couples counseling lift depression in women?
NCT ID NCT07748845
First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether adding Gottman couple therapy to usual depression treatment helps women with major depressive disorder who are in distressed relationships. The therapy focuses on improving communication and emotional connection between partners. Researchers will compare depression severity and relationship satisfaction between women receiving usual care alone and those also receiving the couple therapy.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Gottman couple therapy
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer a new way to support women with depression by involving their partners in treatment, potentially improving both mood and relationship satisfaction.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-stage trial, so results may not apply broadly. The therapy's success depends on couple participation and may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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40 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2023
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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20 to 60 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age of partners: between 20 and 60 years 2. Married for at least 1 year. 3. Female partners meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder with a score of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale above 7 4. Discordant couples, as indicated by a score of 45 or lower on ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale. 5. Commitment to participate in the therapy sessions. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Male partners who meet the diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder. 2. Co-morbid psychiatric illness for any partner 3. Couples if one or both disclosed an act of infidelity or more than two acts of physical aggression in the preceding 3 months. 4. Couples on the verge of divorce 5. Co-morbid serious medical or neurological disorder (stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, ..etc)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Tanta University
Tanta, Egypt
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