Schema Therapy for Patients With Chronic Treatment Resistant Depression

Launched by REGION OF SOUTHERN DENMARK · Apr 15, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a type of therapy called schema therapy to see if it can help people with chronic treatment-resistant depression. This is a form of depression that is hard to treat with regular medications or therapies. The researchers want to find out if schema therapy is more effective than standard psychotherapy options currently offered. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will receive 30 sessions of schema therapy, while the other group will get 6-16 sessions of different types of psychotherapy. Both groups will also have access to regular mental health care.

To be eligible for this study, participants should be adults who have been diagnosed with chronic or treatment-resistant depression for at least two years or who have not improved after trying different antidepressants. They should also have moderate to severe depression scores. However, individuals with current substance abuse, bipolar disorder, or who are at high risk of suicide cannot participate. This trial aims to expand treatment options for those struggling with difficult-to-treat depression, potentially leading to more effective therapies in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participants have at the time of inclusion been referred to treatment for depression as a primary diagnosis in a psychiatric clinic
• * Participants should meet the diagnosis of chronic or treatment-resistant depression as follows:
• • 1. Clinical major depression as measured by the M.I.N.I. diagnostic interview: duration minimum two years OR persistent after = 2 trials of antidepressants from different classes, in an adequate dosage and time period (= 4 weeks) OR moderate treatment resistance as measured on the MSM-scale, score \> 6
• • 2. Minimum a score of 9 points on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 6 (HAMD-6), corresponding to moderate to severe depression
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Alcohol or substance abuse
• • Bipolar or psychotic disorder
• • Acute suicidal risk
• • Mental disability (estimated IQ \< 70)
• • Non-Danish speaker
• • Known to be pregnant at time of inclusion
• • Psychiatric comorbidity is not an exclusion criteria, until the comorbid disorder is understood to be the primary psychiatric problem and as such the patient would be treated in a different care package, e.g., for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder