ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective Many adolescents suffer from depressive and anxiety disorders simultaneously and current treatment methods do not put enough emphasis on comorbidity of these disorders. The unified protocol for treating emotional disorders in adolescents is a transdiagnostic therapy which targets mutual fundamental factors. Therefore, the current study aims to compare the effectiveness of the unified protocol alone with the unified protocol combined with mindfulness as an additional treatment in adolescents suffering from emotional disorders. Method A quasi-experimental study was conducted with adolescents. The participants had been diagnosed with emotional disorders and were divided into a control group (15 participants) and an experimental group (16 participants). Both groups were offered 14 sessions of therapy. They were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up. Scales used in the study included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5). Results The results showed that both of the treatment methods effectively reduced adolescents' emotional problems, but improvements were more significant in the group administered the additional mindfulness program. Among the variables assessed, non-phobic anxiety disorders and depression improved more than specific phobia and behavioral problems. Between-subjects (Group) partial etas for non-phobic anxiety, depression, specific phobia, and behavioral problems were 0.67, 0.50, 0.23, and 0.16, respectively. Conclusion According to the findings of this study, additional treatment methods such as mindfulness could increase the effectiveness of the unified transdiagnostic protocol for adolescents (UP-A). The therapeutic implications are discussed.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Humans , Mindfulness , Anxiety , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Treatment Outcome , Mood DisordersABSTRACT
Objective: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among medical students. Brazilian medical students have higher levels of depression and lower quality of life than their U.S. counterparts, and no preventive intervention exists for this risk group in Brazil. The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP), a cognitive-behavioral treatment protocol for neuroticism, was recently adapted into a single-session, preventive intervention. This study tested the impact of this protocol on psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in Brazilian medical students. Methods: In this open trial, the intervention protocol was translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Medical students over 18 years of age without psychotic symptoms, severe depressive episodes, or acute psychiatric risk were included, undergoing a psychiatric clinical interview (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI]) and evaluation at baseline and at 7 and 30 days after a single-session UP that included experimental avoidance, quality of life, self-esteem, empathy, and anxiety symptom scales. A new evaluation was performed 90 days after the intervention. Results: Sixty-two students participated. Ninety days after the intervention, there were significant reductions in the number of students who met the criteria for social anxiety disorder (p = 0.013) or panic disorder (p = 0.001). There were also significant improvements in depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, p < 0.001) and quality of life (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, p < 0.001). Conclusion: UP improved anxiety and depressive symptoms in medical students. The single-session group format could reduce costs and facilitate application. Future placebo-controlled studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Young Adult , Quality of Life/psychology , Students, Medical/psychology , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Depression/therapy , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Depression/psychologyABSTRACT
Los modelos dimensionales de la psicopatología indican que los trastornos emocionales (del estado de ánimo, de ansiedad, obsesivo-compulsivo, relacionados a traumas y otros) comparten factores de vulnerabilidad y mantenimiento: fuertes emociones perturbadoras, aversión a las mismas y utilización de estrategias para evitarlas que, paradójicamente, las intensifican y prolongan. David Barlow et al. (2011) diseñaron un protocolo transdiagnóstico, el Protocolo Unificado, que apunta a dichos factores. En este trabajo se presentan los fundamentos del tratamiento y los ocho módulos destinados a aumentar la motivación para el cambio; aprender sobre la funcionalidad de las emociones; practicar la conciencia plena; utilizar cogniciones más flexibles que disminuyan la catastrofización de las consecuencias temidas; cambiar las estrategias evitativas por acciones alternativas; tolerar las sensaciones físicas que acompañan a las emociones; exponerse a las emociones más temidas y prevenir recaídas. Una creciente investigación avala la eficacia del Protocolo Unificado
Dimensional models of psychopathology indicate that emotional disorders (mood, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, related to trauma disorders, and others) share factors of vulnerability and maintenance: strong disturbing emotions, aversion to them and use of avoidant strategies that, paradoxically, intensify and prolong them. Barlow et al. (2011) developed a transdiagnostic protocol, the Unified Protocol, to address these factors. This paper presents the treatment rationale and the eight modules aimed at increasing motivation for change; learning about the functionality of emotions; practicing mindfulness; using more flexible cognitions to reduce the catastrophization of feared consequences; replacing avoidant strategies by alternative actions; tolerating the physical sensations that are part of emotions; exposing oneself to the most feared emotions and prevent relapses. Growing research supports the efficacy of the Unified Protocol
Subject(s)
Humans , Psychopathology , Affective Symptoms , MotivationABSTRACT
Abstract Objective: An important subject in evaluation of the efficacy of treatments is to examine how the intervention is effective and to identify the consequences of that treatment. In this regard, the current study investigates the role of emotion regulation as the mediator of the treatment outcomes of therapy using the Unified Protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders. Method: This article describes a double-blind randomized clinical trial. A sample of 26 individuals was selected based on cut-off scores for the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory and their final diagnoses were confirmed with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (ADIS-IV). The sample was randomly divided into two groups: control and treatment (13 patients each). The treatment group received 20 one-hour UP sessions. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were administered at two stages, pre-treatment and post-treatment. Results: The UP reduced anxiety and depression in patients through improvement in emotion regulation. Furthermore, the results showed that the difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior and non-acceptance of emotional response subscales were capable of predicting 62% of variance in anxiety scores. In turn, two subscales, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior and lack of emotional clarity, predicted 72% of variance in depression scores. Conclusion: Emotion regulation can be considered as a potential mediating factor and as predictive of outcomes of transdiagnostic treatment based on the UP. Clinical trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2017072335245N1.
Resumo Objetivo: É importante, na avaliação da eficácia de tratamentos, examinar como a intervenção tem efeito e identificar suas consequências. O presente estudo investiga o papel da regulação emocional enquanto mediadora de desfechos do tratamento que emprega o Protocolo Unificado (PU) para o tratamento transdiagnóstico de transtornos psicológicos. Método: Este artigo descreve um ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego. Uma amostra de 26 indivíduos foi selecionada com base em escores pré-estabelecidos para o Inventário de Depressão de Beck e o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck, e seus diagnósticos finais foram confirmados utilizando o instrumento Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (ADIS-IV). A amostra foi dividida aleatoriamente em dois grupos: controle e tratamento (13 pacientes em cada). O grupo tratamento recebeu 20 sessões de PU de 1 hora cada. O Inventário de Depressão de Beck, Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck Beck e Escala de Dificuldades de Regulação Emocional foram administrados em duas etapas, antes e depois do tratamento. Resultados: O PU reduziu a ansiedade e a depressão em pacientes, ao melhorar a regulação emocional. Além disso, os resultados mostraram que as subescalas dificuldade de se engajar em comportamentos orientados por objetivos e não aceitação de resposta emocional responderam por 62% da variância nos escores de ansiedade. Nos escores de depressão, duas subescalas, dificuldade de se engajar em comportamentos orientados por objetivos e falta de claridade emocional, explicaram 72% da variância. Conclusão: A regulação emocional pode ser considerada o principal fator mediador e também preditora de desfechos do tratamento transdiagnóstico baseado no PU. Registro do ensaio clínico: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2017072335245N1.