A prospective, single-center, quasi-experimental study protocol for evaluating the efficacy of stepwise Yalom group therapy in reducing depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems in Chinese female patients with depressive disorders.

BACKGROUND

Depressive disorder is affecting significantly more women than men. It is often accompanied by interpersonal difficulties, which severely impair patients' social functioning. Individual interpersonal therapy can help improve interpersonal problems, but the implementation of individual therapy is more difficult than that of group therapy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Yalom group therapy in reducing depressive symptoms and interpersonal difficulties among Chinese women with depressive disorders.

METHODS

A total of 90 participants will be allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. Inclusion criteria: ① Diagnosis of depressive disorder or recurrent depressive disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), confirmed by two attending physicians or above; ② Female sex; ③ Age ≥18 years and <60 years; ④ Ability to communicate verbally; ⑤ Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17) score ≥18; ⑥ No psychological treatment received within 6 months; ⑦ Voluntary participation with informed consent. Exclusion criteria: ① Current or planned physical therapy (e.g., electroconvulsive therapy, deep transcranial magnetic stimulation); ② Participation in other group or individual psychological therapy; ③ Comorbidity with severe conditions (e.g., severe personality disorders, substance abuse, neurological diseases); ④ Intellectual disability. The control group will receive 5 weeks of routine care and standard treatment. The intervention group will receive 5 weeks of stepwise Yalom group therapy plus routine care and standard treatment. Primary outcomes include improvements in depressive symptoms and interpersonal difficulties. Secondary outcomes include reductions in anxiety symptoms and enhancements in social functioning. Statistical analyses will be performed using SPSS 27.0. Data will be analyzed in accordance with statistical principles, and missing data will be handled using multiple imputation. p < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

DISCUSSION: This study will enhance understanding of the application of Yalom group therapy in female patients with depressive disorders. As the first study in China to implement a full-course intervention for female inpatients with depressive disorders, it will provide insights into the utility of Yalom group therapy for mitigating disease severity and improving interpersonal outcomes in this population.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2600116067.