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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01640483

Differential Efficacy of Supportive and Interpretative Psychodynamic Techniques for Dependent and Self-critical Depressive Patients

Post-hoc analysis of psychotherapy outcome data suggest that psychodynamic techniques for Major Depressive Disorder are differentially efficacious dependent on personality traits of the patient. More specifically, supportive techniques are hypothesized to be more efficacious for dependent patients, interpretative techniques to be more efficacious for self-critical patients, and mixed supportive/interpretative techniques to be more efficacious for mixed dependent/self-critical patients. Moreover, supportive techniques are hypothesized to impact on depressive symptoms through increased relational capacities while interpretative techniques impact through increased self-understanding.

These hypotheses are tested in an experimental single case design with three dependent, three self-critical and three mixed dependent/self-critical depressive patients. These patients go through a time-limited (50 sessions) experimental treatment which exists of a sequence of four A phases (control conditions), one B phase (supportive techniques only), one C phase (interpretative techniques only), and one BC phase (mixed supportive/interpretative techniques).

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Key information

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ghent University

Ghent, 9000, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient meets criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (as assessed by SCID-I and DSM-IV-TR)
  • Patient is prepared to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient uses antidepressant medication during the treatment
  • Patient scores 3 on the suicide item of the BDI-II
  • Patient meets criteria for psychotic or personality disorder (as assessed by SCID-II)

Treatment and study plan

psychodynamic techniques.

Other

the patients go through a time-limited (50 sessions, 45 minutes, 2 sessions/week) experimental treatment which exists of a sequence of four A phases (control conditions), one B phase (supportive techniques only), one C phase (interpretative techniques only), and one BC phase (mixed supportive/interpretative techniques).

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduction in depressive symptoms at 25 weeks (50 sessions, 2 sessions/week).

    Time frame: 25 weeks

    •Measures each session: The BDI-II with adapted instructions is used to measure depressive symptoms. The process variables associated with change in depressive symptoms will be studied in an exploratory way by means of Psychotherapy Process Q Set (PQS) ratings of the transcripts of the sessions.

    •Measures during A phases: Besides the SCID-I (session 1 and 2 of each A phase) and SCID-II (session 3 of each A phase) interviews, the therapist will administer the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ).

Secondary outcomes

  1. improvement in relational capacities

    Time frame: 25 weeks

    • Measures that are applied each session (also during A phases): The relational capacities (CDPS-RC) and insight (CDPS-IN) subscales of the Capacity for Dynamic Process Scale (CDPRS) of nine researcher-rated items.
    • Measures that are applied during A phases: The therapist will administer the Clinical Diagnostic Interview (CDI, session 4 and 5 of each A phase),and a broad-spectrum set of self-report outcome measures, including the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems - 64 (IIP-64), the SELVES and the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI).

  2. improvement in insight

    Time frame: 25 weeks

    • Measures that are applied each session (also during A phases): The relational capacities (CDPS-RC) and insight (CDPS-IN) subscales of the Capacity for Dynamic Process Scale (CDPRS) of nine researcher-rated items.
    • Measures that are applied during A phases: The therapist will administer the Clinical Diagnostic Interview (CDI, session 4 and 5 of each A phase),and a broad-spectrum set of self-report outcome measures, including the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems - 64 (IIP-64), the SELVES and the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI).

  3. improvement in quality of life, a broad range of physical and psychological symptoms.

    Time frame: 25 weeks

    Measures that are applied each session (also during A phases): The relational capacities (CDPS-RC) and insight (CDPS-IN) subscales of the Capacity for Dynamic Process Scale (CDPRS) of nine researcher-rated items.

    Measures that are applied during A phases: The therapist will administer the Clinical Diagnostic Interview (CDI, session 4 and 5 of each A phase),and a broad-spectrum set of self-report outcome measures, including the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems - 64 (IIP-64), the SELVES and the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Ghent

Other

Collaborators

  • Funding by BOF (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds)

Registry information

Official study title

Differential Efficacy of Supportive and Interpretative Psychodynamic Techniques for Dependent and Self-critical Depressive Patients: an Experimental Single Case Design.

Acronym: PsychodynDep

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Jul 13, 2012
Registry last updated
Dec 1, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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