NCT04830553

Exploring the Suitability of Movement and Sound in Couple Therapy: A Proof-of-Concept Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Medicine Greifswald · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The present phase-IIA waiting-list controlled proof-of-concept trial aims to explore the adequacy of immediate sound feedback for physical distance and touch between individuals as a potential means to complement existing methods in couple therapy. The results obtained will determine the design of a subsequent phase-IIB randomized controlled trial.

Detailed description

According to early 20th century psychoanalysis, the "unsaid" becomes apparent in the relationship between patient and therapist, as well as in metaphors and symbols revealed through unintended utterances, imaginative techniques, and dreams. To convey emotions and thoughts, this method relies on the use of spoken language. Likewise, spoken language remains central to the practice of psychotherapy in subsequent decades, as clinicians and researchers sought to translate and transform major claims of psychoanalysis into newer paradigms, the most prominent of them being cognitive-behavioral, client-centered and family-systems psychotherapy. Inspired by somatic psychology and neuroscience evidence, more recent approaches focus on body and movement to target the "unsaid" beyond spoken language. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the "Sentire" project attempts to provide immediate sound feedback for physical distance and touch between individuals (www.sentire.me). The present phase-IIA waiting-list controlled proof-of-concept trial aims to explore the adequacy of "Sentire" as a potential means to complement existing methods in couple therapy. The results obtained will determine the design of a subsequent phase-IIB randomized controlled trial.

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Music-based couple therapy.	Each couple will receive five treatment sessions, including established methods from client-centered and family-systems psychotherapy as well as "Sentire," a technological approach providing immediate sound feedback for physical distance and touch. Duration of the treatment phase: five weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-03-26
• Primary completion: 2022-04-01
• Completion: 2022-10-01
• First posted: 2021-04-05
• Last updated: 2023-01-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Germany