Psychotherapy versus waiting list for common mental disorders in Danish primary care
Official title: The Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions for Common Mental Disorders (EPIC): A Randomized Waitlist-controlled Superiority Trial.
Run by University of Copenhagen · NCT06916429 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether psychotherapy in Danish primary care reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and related stress more than being on a waiting list for treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 308 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Copenhagen Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Copenhagen, Central Region) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | April 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 6, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06916429 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults in Denmark referred for psychotherapeutic treatment in the primary sector who read and speak Danish and agree to randomization are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients judged by their therapist to be unfit for participation or who require urgent psychological or medical care are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this trial.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled trial comparing approximately four months of psychotherapeutic treatment to a waiting-list control among clients referred to the Danish primary sector for common mental disorders. The primary outcome is symptom level on the PHQ-ADS measured about four and a half months after randomization, with additional follow-ups at about eight and 16 months. The trial also explores which client and therapy characteristics (including therapeutic alliance measured after ~5 weeks) predict treatment response and symptom change in the waitlist group. Practicing primary-sector psychologists with typical waiting times participate in delivering the interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could support offering timely psychotherapy in primary care to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms more effectively than delayed treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous randomized trials have generally shown psychotherapeutic interventions outperform waiting lists for depression and anxiety, and this trial applies that comparison in a Danish primary-care setting.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Clients: * All clients who meet the criteria for one of the eleven referral reasons for psychotherapeutic treatment in the Danish primary sector. * Clients who read and speak proficient Danish to fill in the questionnaires. * Clients who agree to be randomized through their informed consent. Psychologists: * All practicing psychologists employed by the Danish primary sector. * Psychologists who can commit to the deadlines for beginning treatment. * Psychologists with at waiting time of approximately four months or longer. Exclusion Criteria: \- Clients considered unfit for participation or urgently needing psychological or medical help, as determined by the therapist.
Where it's running
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University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Central Region, Denmark Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Stig Poulsen, Professor — University of Copenhagen
- Study coordinator: Celia Faye Jacobsen, PhD
- Email: celia.jacobsen@psy.ku.dk
- Phone: 45+ 22261168
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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.