Healthy AdultECoTNCT07604740
The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy and Relationship Support
A study testing Self-Help Program for Couples, Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course and Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention in people with Healthy Adult, run by University of Helsinki at 1 site in Finland.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Adult
- What is being tested?
- Self-Help Program for Couples, Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course and Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 400 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFinland
- Study dates
- 11 Nov 2025to 30 Jun 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy and Relationship Support: a Randomized Controlled Trial
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Short Manualized Emotionally Focused Couple Intervention: Five face-to-face sessions with a couple therapist.
- Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment As Usual): 1 to 10 sessions, with the therapeutic approach varying depending on the therapist's training.
Read more
The study is conducted at the Relationship Counselling Unit of the City of Helsinki's Social Services in Finland, which provides counselling and family guidance under Section 26 of the Social Welfare Act to couples with children living in Helsinki. A total of 200 couples from the unit's treatment queue will be invited to participate and randomly assigned to one of the interventions or the control group, with 40 couples in each group.
Participants will complete questionnaires at the beginning and end of the service, and at a 4-month follow-up. The questionnaires measure relationship satisfaction and well-being, among other things. The study also examines how individual, couple-level, and treatment-related background factors influence and mediate the effectiveness of the interventions.
In addition to the questionnaires, registry data, therapist assessments, and ongoing treatment feedback collected within the unit is utilized. The results will provide new scientific insights into the effectiveness of short interventions and their suitable target groups and can be used to develop relationship counselling work both within the unit and nationally.
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult
- Being tested
- Self-Help Program for Couples, Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course, Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention, Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual)
- Keywords
- relationship support, relationship counselling, randomized controlled trial, couples, couple therapy, relationship satisfaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Self-Help Program for CouplesBehavioural
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.
Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online CourseBehavioural
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.
Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple InterventionBehavioural
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.
Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual)Behavioural
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HUS Self-help for Couples | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Self-Help Program for Couples |
| Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course |
| Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention |
| Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual) | Experimental | Not described Receives: 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. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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: 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: 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: 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
The Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) is a widely used self-report questionnaire that assesses adult attachment styles in romantic relationships. The instrument measures two dimensions: attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance, reflecting how individuals experience closeness, trust, and emotional connection with their partner. Scores on each subscale typically range from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater attachment anxiety or greater attachment avoidance.
Measured: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
Reflective Functioning (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire)
The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire - RFQ-8 is a brief self-report measure developed by Fonagy and colleagues to assess reflective functioning, or mentalizing-the ability to understand one's own and others' thoughts, feelings, and intentions. In couple research, it helps evaluate how well partners can interpret each other's behavior in emotionally meaningful ways, which is essential for healthy communication and emotional connection.
Measured: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
Communication Patterns (Communication Patterns Questionnaire)
Communication Patterns Questionnaire - Short Form (CPQ-SF) Developed by Christensen and Sullaway, the CPQ-SF is a self-report measure that assesses how couples communicate during conflict. It focuses on typical interaction styles-such as constructive communication, avoidance, and demand-withdraw patterns-providing insight into how partners argue and resolve disagreements in their relationship.
Measured: Masured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 May 2026
- Study start11 Nov 2025
- Primary completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy AdultStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 4 intervention groups and 1 waitlist control group. Waitlist control group gets TAU after waitlist time is finished.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 400 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Helsinki
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- City of Helsinki
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Petra Nyman-Salonen, University of Helsinki
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07604740
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- nro 20/2024
- Acronym
- ECoT
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 12 May 2026
- Last updated
- 22 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data cannot be shared due to strict confidentiality and data protection regulations. These data contain sensitive health-related information and personal identifiers, and sharing them could compromise participants' privacy. All data are handled in accordance with ethical guidelines and legal standards to ensure the protection of participants' rights and well-being.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy and Relationship Support: a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07604740
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ECoT / nro 20/2024
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult
- Keywords
- relationship support, relationship counselling, randomized controlled trial, couples, couple therapy, relationship satisfaction
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 400 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of HelsinkiUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- City of Helsinki
- Study start
- 11 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Short Manualized Emotionally Focused Couple Intervention: Five face-to-face sessions with a couple therapist.
- Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment As Usual): 1 to 10 sessions, with the therapeutic approach varying depending on the therapist's training.
The study is conducted at the Relationship Counselling Unit of the City of Helsinki's Social Services in Finland, which provides counselling and family guidance under Section 26 of the Social Welfare Act to couples with children living in Helsinki. A total of 200 couples from the unit's treatment queue will be invited to participate and randomly assigned to one of the interventions or the control group, with 40 couples in each group.
Participants will complete questionnaires at the beginning and end of the service, and at a 4-month follow-up. The questionnaires measure relationship satisfaction and well-being, among other things. The study also examines how individual, couple-level, and treatment-related background factors influence and mediate the effectiveness of the interventions.
In addition to the questionnaires, registry data, therapist assessments, and ongoing treatment feedback collected within the unit is utilized. The results will provide new scientific insights into the effectiveness of short interventions and their suitable target groups and can be used to develop relationship counselling work both within the unit and nationally.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 5
- Model description
- 4 intervention groups and 1 waitlist control group. Waitlist control group gets TAU after waitlist time is finished.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Help Program for CouplesSelf-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. | Behavioural | HUS Self-help for Couples |
| Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online CourseBased 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. | Behavioural | Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course |
| Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple InterventionManualized 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. | Behavioural | Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention |
| Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual)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. | Behavioural | Standard Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment as Usual) |
Primary outcome
Relationship Satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale)
Time frame: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
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.
Depression severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
Time frame: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
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.
Anxiety Severity (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)
Time frame: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
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.
3 secondary outcomes
Adult Attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised
Time frame: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
Reflective Functioning (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire)
Time frame: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.
Communication Patterns (Communication Patterns Questionnaire)
Time frame: Masured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data cannot be shared due to strict confidentiality and data protection regulations. These data contain sensitive health-related information and personal identifiers, and sharing them could compromise participants' privacy. All data are handled in accordance with ethical guidelines and legal standards to ensure the protection of participants' rights and well-being.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Self-Help Program for Couples, Peloton Parisuhde (eng Fearless Relationship) Online Course and Manualized Short-Term EFT-Based Couple Intervention in people with Healthy Adult, run by University of Helsinki at 1 site in Finland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Relationship Satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale) (time frame: Measured at enrollment before randomization, after treatment (or waitlist condition) and at a 4 months followup.). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 May 2026.