Studies how therapist and patient synchrony relates to depression treatment

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 65 who currently have major depressive disorder and speak Hebrew. Participants take part in a talking therapy called supportive-expressive treatment.

Age

18 to 65 years

Sex

All sexes can join.

Disease stage

Current major depressive disorder (DSM-5), with a score above 14 on the 17-item Hamilton rating scale for depression at two assessments one week apart.

Earlier treatment

Anyone taking psychiatric medication must have had a stable dose for at least three months before the study. They are asked to keep the dose stable during treatment. People currently in psychotherapy cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

• Current risk of suicide or self-harm
• Current substance abuse disorder
• Current or past schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe eating disorder needing medical monitoring
• History of organic mental disease
• Currently in psychotherapy

The registry criteria, word for word

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

• Are you between 18 and 65 years old?YesNo

What the trial wants to find out

This study aims to establish synchrony as an individual-specific mechanism of therapeutic change and offers novel insights into the mechanisms of curative interpersonal processes. The study identifies individual-specific trait-like synchrony signature and investigates the associations between synchrony signature, the individual's trait-like characteristics, and mental health, among participants diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. The study further investigates how deterministic the trait-like synchrony signature is by identifying for whom, how, and when changes are anticipated. Additionally, it examines whether synchrony signature transfers to relationships with the therapist, whether and how it changes throughout treatment, and whether such potential changes are associated with improvements in mental health. Synchrony is recognized as a key driver of collaborative, affiliative, and curative relationships. While its potential role in improving mental health through interpersonal relationships has sparked growing interest, particularly in psychotherapy, the field is at a crossroads, with mixed findings challenging the widespread theoretical assumption that "more synchrony is better." This study introduces a personalized framework that emphasizes individual-specific synchrony signatures, shifting from generalized assumptions to tailored understanding and interventions. The study explores how synchrony can transform relationships into curative ones by leveraging individual-tailored changes in synchrony signatures in psychotherapy. The potential impact is vast. Tailoring synchrony to individual-specific signatures represents a paradigm shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to personalized interventions. This personalized framework could revolutionize mental health care by facilitating the development of targeted strategies that enhance treatment outcomes.

The 2 groups in the trial

• Supportive-expressive psychotherapyTreatment being tested

  Participants will receive supportive-expressive therapy for depressive disorder for 16 weeks.

  Treatment: Supportive-expressive treatment

• Waiting listNo study treatment, for comparison

  Participants will wait for treatment for 16 weeks. After the waiting the participants will receive in a supportive-expressive treatment for depressive disorder for 16 weeks.