1. Home
  2. Approved trials
  3. » فارسی

Study of the effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment on distress tolerance, rumination, and marital adjustment of couples with marital conflicts referring to psychological counseling centers

Protocol summary

Study aim
To compare the effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment on distress tolerance, rumination, and marital adjustment of couples with marital conflicts referring to psychological counseling centers
Design
A clinical trial with a control group, using parallel groups, without blinding, randomized, on 40 patients. For randomization, the RAND function of Excel software will be used.
Settings and conduct
The statistical population of the research includes all couples with marital conflicts referring to the psychological counseling center in Ahvaz city during the period of April 2026. In the sample selection stage, a convenience sampling method is used. After selecting a sample of 40 individuals (20 couples) based on the research’s inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: an intervention group and a control group.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Couples who have been married for a maximum of 3 to 5 years, couples experiencing marital conflicts with accurate diagnostic criteria. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals unwilling to participate in the study, participation in other psychotherapy sessions.
Intervention groups
Intervention Group: All couples who will receive the Acceptance and Commitment Couples Therapy intervention.The therapeutic sessions will follow the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy protocol by Hayes and Strosschneider (2010). These intervention sessions will consist of 8 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, conducted over the course of one month. Control Group: The control group will not receive any type of intervention during the research execution.
Main outcome variables
Distress Tolerance, Rumination, Marital Adjustment

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20260315068992N1
Registration date: 2026-03-18, 1404/12/27
Registration timing: prospective

Last update: 2026-03-18, 1404/12/27
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-03-18, 1404/12/27
Registrant information
Name
Azam Safari
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 5233 2752
Email address
azzm.safari@iau.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-04-04, 1405/01/15
Expected recruitment end date
2026-04-20, 1405/01/31
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Study of the effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment on distress tolerance, rumination, and marital adjustment of couples with marital conflicts referring to psychological counseling centers
Public title
Acceptance and Commitment Couple Therapy for Relationship Improvement
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Married couples with a duration of marriage not exceeding 3 to 5 years Scoring above the average on the rumination questionnaire Scoring below average on marital adjustment and distress tolerance Couples must have marital conflicts and meet diagnostic criteria
Exclusion criteria:
Individuals unwilling to participate in the study participation in other psychotherapy sessions
Age
From 20 years old to 35 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size: 40
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
The statistical population of the study includes all couples with marital conflicts referred to the psychological counseling center during the period of April 2026. In this type of impact assessment study, a two-stage approach is usually used. In the sample selection stage, a convenience sampling method is used. After selecting samples totaling 40 individuals (20 couples) based on the research inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: intervention and control. Randomization will be performed using the method of random block sizes (4 and 6 persons) by an independent statistician who is not involved in the implementation process. The randomization allocation list will be generated using the RAND function in Excel software so that the researcher and participants are unaware of the allocation sequence. To ensure the equality of baseline variables, their distribution in the two groups will be examined at the statistical analysis stage.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Opposite Keshavarz Street, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Approval date
2026-02-21, 1404/12/02
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.678

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Marital Conflicts
ICD-10 code
F43.2
ICD-10 code description
Adjustment disorders

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Distress Tolerance
Timepoint
1. Pre-test (before the intervention begins). 2. Post-test (immediately after the intervention period ends). 3. One-month follow-up after the intervention
Method of measurement
The measurement tool will be the Simons and Gaher Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (2005).

2

Description
Rumination
Timepoint
1. Pre-test (before the intervention begins). 2. Post-test (immediately after the intervention period ends). 3. One-month follow-up after the intervention
Method of measurement
The measurement tool will be the Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991) Rumination Questionnaire.

3

Description
Marital Adjustment
Timepoint
1. Pre-test (before the intervention begins). 2. Post-test (immediately after the intervention period ends). 3. One-month follow-up after the intervention
Method of measurement
The measurement tool will be Spanier’s Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (1976).

Secondary outcomes

empty

Intervention groups

1

Description
Intervention group: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based couples therapy. Session Duration: 90 minutes. Total Number of Sessions: 8 sessions. Session Frequency: Twice a week. Therapeutic Tools Used: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), including mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, values clarification, and committed actions. Session Content: Session 1: Pre-test; Introduction to ACT and the concept of “Creative Hopelessness.” Session 2: Identifying marital problems from an ACT perspective; beginning values exploration. Session 3: Practicing acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings; mindfulness. Session 4: Deepening values; linking values to behavior. Session 5: Defusion techniques for observing thoughts. Session 6: Planning committed actions; overcoming obstacles. Session 7: Strengthening value-based connections; practicing new skills. Session 8: Post-test; wrap-up; follow-up planning.
Category
Treatment - Other

2

Description
Control group: The control group will not receive any intervention during the implementation of the research. However, to prevent threats to the internal validity of the research, such as compensatory rivalry of the control group or demoralization, they will receive the intervention after data collection.
Category
Treatment - Other

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Rayan Psychological counseling centers in the city of Ahvaz
Full name of responsible person
Azam Safari
Street address
Qaem 1 Alley, Khorramshahr Street
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351886662
Phone
+98 61 5233 2752
Email
azzm.safari@iau.ir

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Nahid Hossain Abasi
Street address
Opposite Keshavarz Street, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Phone
+98 61 3334 8421
Email
nahid.habbasi@gmail.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Azam Safari
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Qaem 1 Alley, Khorramshahr Street
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351886662
Phone
+98 61 5233 2752
Email
azzm.safari@iau.ir

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Azam Safari
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Qaem 1 Alley, Khorramshahr Street
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351886662
Phone
+98 61 5233 2752
Email
azzm.safari@iau.ir

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Azam Safari
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Qaem 1 Alley, Khorramshahr Street
City
Mahshahr
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6351886662
Phone
+98 61 5233 2752
Email
azzm.safari@iau.ir

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Not applicable
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Not applicable
Data Dictionary
Not applicable
Loading...