PERMA model vs. integrative-behavioral couple therapy for fertility problems: A randomized clinical trial protocol

Background: Psychological interventions may reduce fertility problems. Positive emotion, engagement, meaning, positive relationship and accomplishment (PERMA) is a cognitive intervention and integrative-behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) is a behavioral intervention. Appropriate mental interventions are important in infertility treatment.
Objective: To investigate the effect of the PERMA model vs. IBCT in reducing the fertility problems of couples.
Materials and Methods: The content of the interventions was developed and adjusted based on a literature review and the opinions of experts. In this three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial, 42 couples undergoing infertility treatment will be allocated randomly into three groups (n = 14 couples/each). Group 1 will receive the PERMA intervention, group 2 will receive the IBCT intervention, and group 3 as the control group will receive an infertility treatment training program intervention. The primary outcome will be the fertility problems, which will be measured by completing a fertility problem inventory at baseline, as well as in the 5^th and 9^th wk as a follow-up. Another primary outcome, satisfaction with the intervention, will also be assessed in the 5^th and 9^th wk. The secondry outcome will be a positive pregnancy test at wk 12. The interventions will be conducted through a combination of face-to-face and online via WhatsApp.
Conclusion: This study will assess social, sexual, and parenthood concerns. A combination of online and face-to-face interventions will be appropriate given the COVID-19 pandemic. Couple’s counseling may provide better counseling outcomes for fertility problems in comparison with group counseling. This study will try to optimize resilience during infertility treatment through learning better relationship and problem-solving skills, and may have an indirect impact on pregnancy rate, burden of infertility, and costs of treatment due to increased effectiveness.

Keywords
Online; Face-to-face; Infertility; Integrative-behavioral couple therapy; PERMA model; RCT; Positive psychology; Protocol study; COVID-19.