Psychotherapy approaches for treating major depression
Official title: Investigating Mechanisms of Change in Supportive-Expressive vs. Emotion-Focused Treatment of Depression Using a Personalized Treatment Approach: The Case of the Theories of Weakness vs. Strength
Run by University of Haifa · NCT04576182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing two types of therapy for people with major depression to see which one helps them feel better by focusing on their emotions and understanding their thoughts.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 124 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Haifa Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Haifa) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 29, 2020 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | May 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT04576182 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 65 who meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and are fluent in Hebrew.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with current suicidal risk, substance abuse disorders, or severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates two types of psychotherapy—supportive-expressive therapy and emotion-focused therapy—for individuals with major depressive disorder. A total of 124 patients will be randomized to receive 16 sessions of one of the therapies, with the aim of understanding how different mechanisms of change, such as insight and emotional processing, affect treatment outcomes. The study will utilize a variety of methods, including self-report questionnaires, hormonal and acoustic measures, cognitive tasks, and clinician interviews, to assess the effectiveness of each approach. The findings aim to enhance personalized treatment strategies based on patients' strengths and weaknesses in emotional processing and insight.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective, personalized psychotherapy treatments for patients with major depressive disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using different psychotherapeutic approaches for depression, but this specific comparison of mechanisms is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Meeting major depressive disorder diagnostic criteria using the structured clinical interviews for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 and scoring more than 14 on the 17-item Hamilton rating scale for depression at two evaluations (one week apart) (Hamilton, 1967). * If on medication, patients' dosage must be stable for at least three months prior to entering the study, and they must be willing to maintain stable dosage for the duration of treatment * Age between 18 and 65 * Hebrew language fluency * Provision of written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Current risk of suicide or self-harm * current substance abuse disorders * current or past schizophrenia or psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe eating disorder requiring medical monitoring * history of organic mental disease * currently in psychotherapy
Where it's running
-
University of Haifa
Haifa, Israel Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sigal Zilcha-Mano, PhD
- Email: sigalzil@gmail.com
- Phone: 972-8249047
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.