Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT): EFCT is a structured approach to couples therapy that focuses on helping partners understand and express their emotions, address attachment insecurities, and strengthen their emotional connection.
Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT): BCT is a form of therapy that aims to improve relationship satisfaction through behavioral change, communication training, and problem-solving techniques.
Study summary
This study compares the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) and Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms in married couples. A total of 150 married couples aged 18-65 will be screened, and 60 couples with high depression and anxiety levels will be selected. These couples will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: EFCT, BCT, or a control group. Therapy sessions will be conducted weekly for 12 weeks, with assessments before therapy, after the 6th and 12th sessions, and at a 3-month follow-up. The study aims to determine which therapy is more effective in improving mental health outcomes in couples.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* Married couples aged between 18 and 65 years
* Married for at least one year
* No current psychiatric diagnosis or history of psychiatric treatment
* Not receiving any form of psychological therapy at the time of recruitment
* Ability to provide informed consent
* Willingness to participate in all therapy sessions and assessments
Exclusion Criteria:
* Current or past psychiatric diagnosis (excluding mild transient conditions)
* Ongoing psychological therapy or psychiatric treatment
* Severe mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), Substance abuse or dependency
* Severe medical conditions that may interfere with participation
* Refusal to participate in follow-up assessments
Primary outcome measure(s)
The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) — Baseline, after the 6th session (6 week), after the 12th session (12 week), and at 3-month follow-up (24 week) The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) will be used to measure changes in depression symptoms over time. Scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.
The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) — Baseline, after the 6th session (6 week), after the 12th session (12 week), and at 3-month follow-up (24 week) The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) will be used to measure changes in anxiety symptoms over time. Scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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