A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Treating Posttraumatic Psychopathology: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Internet-delivered unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in adolescents (iUP-A): Web application and study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. A characteristic of transdiagnostic treatment is that it targets simultaneously the core symptoms and underlying vulnerabilities of several disorders. The UP-A is a new empirically supported cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol developed by Ehrenreich-May’s group for the transdiagnostic treatment approach of emotional disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety and related disorders) in adolescents (Ehrenreich-May et al., 2018), to be applied in a face-to-face format. Internet-delivered psychological treatments represent an emerging model to improve access to evidence-based CBT. A first aim of this study is to describe the development of a web application named Aprende a Manejar Tus Emociones (AMTE; Learn to Manage Your Emotions), designed to implement the UP-A in order to be delivered via internet (iUP-A). A second objective is to test the efficacy of the iUP-A for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders compared to waiting list, in a randomized controlled trial. We investigated changes in a broad range of primary, secondary and transdiagnostic outcome measures.Keywords: Transdiagnostic; UP-A; iUP-A; internet-delivered CBT; AMTE; anxiety; depression.Resumen: Una característica del tratamiento transdiagnóstico consiste en que aborda simultáneamente los síntomas principales y las vulnerabilidades que subyacen a varios trastornos. El UP-A es un nuevo protocolo de terapia cognitivo-conductual (TCC) basada en la evidencia desarrollado por el grupo de Ehrenreich-May para un tratamiento transdiagnóstico de los trastornos emocionales (i.e., depresión, ansiedad y trastornos relacionados) en adolescentes (Ehrenreich-May et al., 2018), para ser aplicado en un formato cara-a-cara. Los tratamientos psicológicos dispensados a través de internet representan un modelo emergente para mejorar el acceso a la TCC basada en la evidencia. Un primer objetivo del presente estudio consiste en describir el desarrollo de una aplicación web denominada Aprende a Manejar Tus Emociones (AMTE), diseñada para implementar el UP-A con objeto de ser dispensado a través de internet (iUP-A). Un segundo objetivo es probar la eficacia del iUP-A para el tratamiento de la depresión y los trastornos de ansiedad en comparación con una lista de espera, en un ensayo controlado aleatorizado. Se investigan los cambios en un amplio rango de medidas de resultado primarias, secundarias y transdiagnósticas.Palabras clave: Transdiagnóstico; UP-A; iUP-A; TCC por internet; AMTE; ansiedad; depresión.

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Current Evidence Base for the UP-C and UP-A

10.1093/med-psych/9780197527931.003.0003 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 31-38

Author(s):

Niza Tonarely ◽

Dominique Phillips

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Emotional Disorders ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Current Evidence Base

This chapter summarizes current research support for Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C and UP-A), which have been found to be efficacious for children and adolescents with a range of emotional concerns. The UP-A has been investigated in randomized controlled trials and has demonstrated efficacy in treating anxiety and depressive symptoms, with significant decreases in symptoms during treatment and maintenance of gains following treatment. The UP-C has been investigated using open and randomized controlled trial designs and was found to be as efficacious as an established anxiety protocol. This chapter also presents research on patterns of change across symptoms and individuals in response to the UP-C and UP-A, including response trajectories, the timing of change, and comparisons of rates of change by symptom and reporter.

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