Empathic stress transmission and positive social affect training in major depression disorder

Empathic stress transmission and positive social affect training in major depression disorder - SFB_/TRR 393_ C03

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00037543

Enrollment

200

Registered

2025-08-22

Start date

2025-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Major depressive disorder (partly) remitted

Interventions

Group 1: experimental group: The experimental group receives an eight-week positive social affect training programme consisting of two structured exercises in everyday life. It includes a compassion m

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Target subjects: o Aged 18–65 o BMI >17 and 3 months o MDD group: History of MDD diagnosis, currently (partially) remitted o HC group: No lifetime F diagnosis (exception: nicotine) Partners • Stable relationship with target for 6 months • Willingness to participate in study • Shared household for 6 months • No pregnancy/breastfeeding • No diseases/medication affecting the HPA axis or immune activity • BMI of >17 or <30 • 50%: SLE in last 12 months

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: o MRI contraindications (metal implants, pacemakers, claustrophobia, pregnancy, etc.) o Shift work (decided on a case-by-case basis) o History of organic brain disorders (e.g., seizures, stroke, multiple sclerosis, dementia, Hashimoto's disease, lupus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, type 1 diabetes, HIV, serum hepatitis C, Lyme disease) o History of serious medical conditions (e.g., cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Self-assessed empathy in EmpaToM (“How much empathy do you feel?": 7-point Likert scale, “none” to “a lot”)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. 2-week intense Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in regard to negative stress transmission: “Empathizing with the feelings of my counterpart/partner stressed me out.”; Visual analog scale: not at all - very much (0-100) 2. Mood assessed at the end of the day via EMA: "How would you describe your mood today?" (Very depressed mood or severe loss of interest; Depressed mood or loss of interest; Balanced mood with normal ups and downs; Elevated or irritable mood and increased energy; Very elevated/expansive mood or increased energy)	—

Measure

Time frame

1. 2-week intense Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in regard to negative stress transmission: “Empathizing with the feelings of my counterpart/partner stressed me out.”; Visual analog scale: not at all - very much (0-100) 2. Mood assessed at the end of the day via EMA: "How would you describe your mood today?" (Very depressed mood or severe loss of interest; Depressed mood or loss of interest; Balanced mood with normal ups and downs; Elevated or irritable mood and increased energy; Very elevated/expansive mood or increased energy)

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactElisabeth Johanna Leehr

Universität Münster, Medizinische Fakultät Münster, Institut für Translationale Psychiatrie

leehr@uni-muenster.de+49 (0) 251 83-51860

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026