title: The Ghent Psychotherapy Study (GPS) on the differential efficacy of supportive-expressive and cognitive behavioral interventions in dependent and self-critical depressive patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide, indicating the importance of effective therapies. Outcome studies have shown overall efficacy of different types of psychotherapy across groups, yet large variability within groups. Although patient characteristics are considered crucial in understanding outcome, they have received limited research attention. This trial aims at investigating the interaction between therapeutic approach (pre-structured versus explorative) and the personality style of patients (dependent versus self-critical), which is considered a core underlying dimension of depressive pathology.
  
  
  
  This study is a pragmatic stratified (dependent and self-critical patients) parallel trial with equal randomization (allocation 1:1) conducted in Flanders, Belgium. One hundred and four patients will be recruited and randomized to either 16-20 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression (pre-structured approach) or 16-20 sessions of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression (explorative approach) conducted by trained psychotherapists in private practices. The primary outcome is the severity of depression as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression at completion of therapy. Secondary outcome measures include self-reported depressive and other symptoms, interpersonal functioning, idiosyncratic complaints, and the presence of the diagnosis of depression. Additional measures include biological measures, narrative material (sessions, interviews), and health care costs.
  
  
  
  This trial presents the test of an often-described, yet hardly investigated interaction between important personality dimensions and therapeutic approach in the treatment of depression. Results could inform therapists on how to match psychotherapeutic treatments to specific personality characteristics of their patients.
  
  
  
  Isrctn.com, ISRCTN17130982 . Registered on 2 February 2015.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium. reitske.meganck@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Reitske
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9052-0100
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meganck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desmet
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Universiteit Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 1, Utrecht, 3584 CS, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Claudi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bockting
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inslegers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Truijens
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Geest
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwenhove
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hennissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Goedele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.affiliation: Department of Data Analysis, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Loeys
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ufuoma Angelica
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K12, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baeken
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanheule
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012107:Research Design; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy; Major depressive disorder; Personality styles; Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy