Depression in One or Both Partners and the Efficacy of Couple Therapy

Abstract

Although considerable research has been conducted on common factors affecting individual therapy, little research has investigated common factors in couple therapy. The present study examines depression in one or both partners as one of the potential common client factors affecting couple therapy. The study uses data from 55 couples who sought therapy for relationship issues at a large university-based family therapy clinic that serves an ethnically diverse population. The results suggest that, at least within the range of depression represented in this couple and family therapy clinic sample, there is no difference in therapy outcome between couples experiencing mild depression and those with minimal to no depression. However, there was some evidence that therapy was less effective when the male partner suffered from depression. This study is important in redirecting the attention of couple therapists to males' depression as opposed to the traditional focus on females' depression.