The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy and Relationship Support

NCT07604740 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: nro 20/2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 400
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized and controlled study investigates the effectiveness of relationship counselling and couple therapy in improving couples' relationship satisfaction and overall well-being. It compares four intervention groups both with each other and with a waitlist control group. The groups are:

1. 1.HUS Self-Help (Mielenterveystalo.fi): Participants independently complete online self-help tasks based on couple therapy, developed by Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) Psychiatry and Väestöliitto.
2. 2.Peloton Parisuhde (eng. Fearless Relationship) Online Course: Based on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), this course by EFCT trainers Eklund-Mikola \& Pinomaa uses online lectures and exercises to help couples identify negative interaction patterns and strengthen their emotional connection.
3. 3.Short Manualized Emotionally Focused Couple Intervention: Five face-to-face sessions with a couple therapist.
4. 4.Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment As Usual): 1 to 10 sessions, with the therapeutic approach varying depending on the therapist's training.

Conditions

Healthy Adult

Keywords

relationship support; relationship counselling; randomized controlled trial; couples; couple therapy; relationship satisfaction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Relationship Satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale)

  The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) is a self-report questionnaire assessing relationship satisfaction and adjustment between romantic partners. The scale measures consensus, satisfaction, cohesion, and affectional expression. Total scores range from 0 to 151, with higher scores indicating better relationship adjustment and satisfaction.

  Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.

• Depression severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)

  The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated self-report measure assessing the severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.

  Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.

• Anxiety Severity (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)

  The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a validated self-report measure assessing the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms.

  Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Adult Attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised

  Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.

• Reflective Functioning (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire)

  Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.

• Communication Patterns (Communication Patterns Questionnaire)

  Masured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup

Study Arms (5)

HUS Self-help for Couples

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Self-Help Program for Couples

Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course

Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention

Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual)

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual)

Waitlist (control group)

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group do not receive any intervention during the initial two-month study period. After the waiting period, they are offered Treatment as Usual. This group serves as a comparison to assess the effectiveness of the active treatments.

Interventions

Self-Help Program for Couples BEHAVIORAL

Self-Help Program for Couples (Mielenterveystalo.fi) developed by HUS, this online self-help program provides couples with psychoeducational content and practical exercises designed to enhance relationship well-being. Partners can complete the tasks together or individually. The materials aim to strengthen emotional connection and improve communication.

HUS Self-help for Couples

Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course BEHAVIORAL

Based on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, this course by Eira Eklund-Mikola and Hanna Pinomaa uses online lectures and exercises to help couples identify negative interaction patterns and strengthen their emotional connection.

Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course

Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention BEHAVIORAL

Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention is a structured program consisting of five face-to-face sessions with a trained couple therapist. Based on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the intervention helps partners explore emotional patterns, improve communication, and strengthen their bond through guided therapeutic exercises.

Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention

Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual) BEHAVIORAL

This intervention consists of 1 to 10 in-person sessions with a couple therapist. The therapeutic approach varies depending on the therapist's professional background and training. It reflects typical clinical practice and is not standardized, allowing for flexibility in addressing the couple's specific needs.

Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Parents (couple) and blended families, and at least one of the parents is resident of Helsinki
• Couples expecting their first child. The couple is experiencing one or more of the following (1) severe relationship conflict, (2) a serious threat of separation, (3) significant challenges in forming a family or navigating a blended family relationship.
• couples eligible for treatment at the couple counselling faculty of Helsinki

You may not qualify if:

• Inadequate Finnish written language skills (the questionnaires are only available in Finnish)
• if both spouses do not complete the baseline questionnaires within the given deadline.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Helsinki: lead
• City of Helsinki: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Relationship Counselling

Helsinki, Finland

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Family Characteristics; Therapeutics

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demography; Population Characteristics; Socioeconomic Factors; Epidemiologic Measurements; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD, Clinical lecturer

Model Details: 4 intervention groups and 1 waitlist control group. Waitlist control group gets TAU after waitlist time is finished.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 12, 2026
• First Posted: May 22, 2026
• Study Start: November 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2029
• Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (1)