ePREP for Relationship Issues

Overseen By Allen Barton

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Disqualifiers: Severe intimate partner violence

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The current research is designed to implement and evaluate the ePREP relationship intervention with couples throughout the state of Illinois.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment ePREP for relationship issues?

Research shows that ePREP helps improve mental health and relationship outcomes, with benefits lasting up to 10 months. It has been effective for college students and low-income military couples, suggesting it can help various groups with relationship issues. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the ePREP treatment different from other treatments for relationship issues?

The ePREP treatment is unique because it is a computer-based program that focuses on improving mental health and relationship outcomes through effective communication and conflict management skills. It is designed to be flexible and accessible, making it easier to disseminate relationship education compared to traditional in-person programs. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for couples living in Illinois who are married, engaged, or have been cohabiting for at least six months. Both partners must be willing to engage in an online program aimed at improving their relationship. Couples where one or both partners report severe intimate partner violence are not eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

My partner and I are willing to join online relationship programs.

Resident of Illinois

I have been with my partner for at least 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

One or both partners reports severe forms of intimate partner violence occurring in the relationship

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in the ePREP program, consisting of 6 self-directed online sessions with accompanying homework and brief coach calls

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in relationship instability, communication conflict, and other measures

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• ePREP

Trial Overview The study is testing the ePREP online intervention designed to enhance marital relationships and address relationship issues. The goal is to see if this program can positively impact couples throughout Illinois.

Participant Groups

Group I: ePrep Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The ePREP program is the online version of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program. It consists of 6 self-directed online sessions and accompanying homework and brief coach calls.

ePREP is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as ePREP for:

• Relationship Education
• Couples Therapy Alternative

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lead Sponsor

Trials

203

Recruited

40,600+

Findings from Research

The ePREP preventive intervention significantly improved mental health and relationship outcomes in a randomized clinical trial with 77 college students, showing its effectiveness over a 10-month follow-up period.

Participants who received the ePREP intervention maintained these benefits even after experiencing relationship dissolution, highlighting the intervention's durability and flexibility in addressing relationship education challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of a computer based preventive intervention: replication and extension of ePREP. Braithwaite, SR., Fincham, FD.[2022]

Online relationship interventions significantly improved relationship satisfaction, conflict resolution, and emotional support among military couples, with effects maintained at follow-up, based on a study of 90 military couples.

Despite lower program completion rates among military couples (57% vs. 71% for civilians), their satisfaction with the program was equally positive, indicating a need for further research to enhance engagement and address issues like intimate partner violence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of online OurRelationship and ePREP programs for low-income military couples. Georgia Salivar, E., Knopp, K., Roddy, MK., et al.[2021]

The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) significantly improved communication skills among couples, leading to higher positive and lower negative communication levels at the 5-year follow-up.

Couples who participated in PREP also reported lower levels of marital violence compared to those in the control group, highlighting the program's effectiveness in promoting healthier relationships.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training: a 4- and 5-year follow-up. Markman, HJ., Renick, MJ., Floyd, FJ., et al.[2019]

A study involving 929 couples evaluated the effectiveness of two couple relationship education programs, ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully (CCM), showing significant improvements in relationship skills, quality, and family harmony over one year compared to a control group.

The ELEVATE program also positively impacted mental health and sleep quality, suggesting that these relationship education programs can provide broad benefits for diverse couples.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Concurrent randomized control trials of the 1-year efficacy of two couple relationship education programs: ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully. Adler-Baeder, F., McGill, J., Dede Yildirim, E., et al.[2022]

Couples with higher pre-intervention relationship dissatisfaction showed greater improvements in satisfaction during the 'Hold me Tight' program, supporting the idea that there is more room for improvement in high-risk couples.

Risk factors negatively impacted relationship satisfaction gains during the intervention and follow-up, indicating that vulnerability can hinder the benefits of Couple Relationship Education programs, but specific risk factors varied between self-referred and clinician-referred couples.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Do high-risk couples profit more or less from couple relationship education programs than low-risk couples? Room for improvement and vulnerability effects. Conradi, HJ., Noordhof, A., Dingemanse, P., et al.[2023]

Relationship education programs like PREP can help prevent marital distress among newlyweds, but their effectiveness may vary based on individual couple dynamics.

The study found that women who showed extreme increases in positive communication and decreases in negative communication after the program were more likely to experience relationship distress in the following five years, suggesting a need to adapt these programs for better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term prediction of marital quality following a relationship education program: being positive in a constructive way. Baucom, DH., Hahlweg, K., Atkins, DC., et al.[2007]

The paper introduces an ecological model of couple relationships designed to improve the effectiveness of Couple Relationship Education (RE) programs.

It emphasizes the importance of understanding the mediators of RE effects and suggests future research to identify factors that could enhance the impact of RE on couples managing stress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An ecological model of mediators of change in Couple Relationship Education. Halford, WK., Pepping, CA.[2019]

Couples experiencing relationship distress are increasingly attending Couple and Relationship Education (CRE) programs, raising questions about the effectiveness of these programs for this specific group.

The study found that the dosage and duration of participation in CRE programs significantly influence outcomes, suggesting that tailored approaches based on distress levels and time spent in the program are essential for improving effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

It's About Time! Examining Received Dosage and Program Duration as Predictors of Change Among Non-Distressed and Distressed Married Couple and Relationship Education Participants. Bradford, AB., Drean, L., Adler-Baeder, F., et al.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of a computer based preventive intervention: replication and extension of ePREP. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of online OurRelationship and ePREP programs for low-income military couples. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training: a 4- and 5-year follow-up. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Concurrent randomized control trials of the 1-year efficacy of two couple relationship education programs: ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Do high-risk couples profit more or less from couple relationship education programs than low-risk couples? Room for improvement and vulnerability effects. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term prediction of marital quality following a relationship education program: being positive in a constructive way. [2007]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An ecological model of mediators of change in Couple Relationship Education. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

It's About Time! Examining Received Dosage and Program Duration as Predictors of Change Among Non-Distressed and Distressed Married Couple and Relationship Education Participants. [2019]