A Multiple Case Study of Schema Therapy for Difficult-to-treat Depression- DEPRE-ST*Case

Launched by REGION OF SOUTHERN DENMARK · Oct 22, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The DEPRE-ST*Case clinical trial is studying a type of therapy called schema therapy to see how well it can help people with difficult-to-treat depression. This study will focus on three individuals who have been struggling with chronic or treatment-resistant depression for at least two years. Over the course of about a year, these participants will receive 30 sessions of schema therapy at two different psychiatric treatment centers. The goal is to learn more about how effective this therapy is and to develop recommendations on how to best use it for people facing similar challenges.

To join this study, participants need to be referred for treatment of depression and must meet specific criteria, such as having had moderate to severe depression for at least two years or not responding well to multiple antidepressant treatments. Participants should not have issues like substance abuse or certain severe mental health disorders. The trial is not yet recruiting, but it aims to gather valuable information that could improve treatment options for those who are struggling with depression that hasn't responded to other therapies.

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
• • (The inclusion and exclusion criteria follow that of the mother study (clinicaltrial.gov ID NCT05833087))