The Effect of Gottman and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Couples’ Relationships and Quality of Life in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Effects of Gottman Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Sound Relationship House Indicators, Cardiac Distress, Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Self-Management Behavior and Health-Related Quality of life in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT20251107067902N1

Enrollment

Registered

2026-05-06

Start date

2026-06-22

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-06-01

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

Conditions

Coronary artery disease (CAD). Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery

Interventions

Intervention 1: Intervention group one: Participants in this group receive a couples therapy program based on the Gottman approach. The intervention consists of 15 weekly sessions, each lasting 90 min

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

30 Years to 70 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Confirmed diagnosis of coronary artery disease by a cardiologist Being married and both partners’ willingness to participate in the therapeutic sessions Participation in a home-based cardiac rehabilitation program Age between 30 and 70 years Ability to understand and complete the study questionnaires Providing written informed consent to participate in the research.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Presence of diagnosed severe psychiatric disorders Drug abuse or severe alcohol dependence Concurrent participation in other similar psychotherapeutic interventions Physical or cognitive conditions preventing participation in therapy sessions

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Score on the Healthy Relationship Home Index to assess the quality of couples’ relationships using the Couple Relationship Rating Scale at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Healthy Relationship Home Questionnaire (twelve five-option subscales).;Score of cardiac distress to assess the level of stress and negative emotions related to heart disease at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Cardiac Distress Inventory – Short Form (twelve five-option items).;Score of home-based cardiac rehabilitation self-management behaviors to assess participants’ adherence to the rehabilitation program at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Self-management Behaviors Questionnaire (five five-option subscales).;Score of health-related quality of life to evaluate the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of cardiac patients’ lives at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Heart-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (fourteen five-option items).	—

Measure

Time frame

Score on the Healthy Relationship Home Index to assess the quality of couples’ relationships using the Couple Relationship Rating Scale at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Healthy Relationship Home Questionnaire (twelve five-option subscales).;Score of cardiac distress to assess the level of stress and negative emotions related to heart disease at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Cardiac Distress Inventory – Short Form (twelve five-option items).;Score of home-based cardiac rehabilitation self-management behaviors to assess participants’ adherence to the rehabilitation program at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Self-management Behaviors Questionnaire (five five-option subscales).;Score of health-related quality of life to evaluate the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of cardiac patients’ lives at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Timepoint: Before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Method of measurement: Heart-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (fourteen five-option items).

—

Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactElham Irani

Semnan University of Medical Sciences

elham.irani2101@gmail.com+98 21 7670 0915

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jun 11, 2026