Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Christopher P. Fairholme ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
Christina L. Boisseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Dissociative Disorders ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Situational Cues ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
The Common ◽  
Evidenced Based

This online therapist guide is a radical departure from disorder-specific treatments of various emotional disorders, and is designed to be applicable to all anxiety and unipolar mood disorders, as well as other disorders with strong emotional components, such as many somatoform and dissociative disorders. It covers the Unified Protocol (UP), which capitalizes on the contributions made by cognitive-behavioral theorists by distilling and incorporating the common principles of CBT present in all evidenced based protocols for specific emotional disorders, as well as drawing on the field of emotion science for insights into deficits in emotion regulation. It covers the seven modules of UP, and focuses on four core strategies to help patients: becoming mindfully aware of emotional experience; reappraising rigid emotion laden attributions; identifying and preventing behavioral and emotional avoidance; and facilitating exposure to both interoceptive and situational cues associated with emotional experiences.

Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
Christopher P. Fairholme ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Christina L. Boisseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Dissociative Disorders ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Situational Cues ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
The Common ◽  
Evidenced Based

This online patient workbook is a radical departure from disorder-specific treatments of various emotional disorders, and is designed to be applicable to all anxiety and unipolar mood disorders, as well as other disorders with strong emotional components, such as many somatoform and dissociative disorders. It covers the Unified Protocol (UP), which capitalizes on the contributions made by cognitive-behavioral theorists by distilling and incorporating the common principles of CBT present in all evidenced based protocols for specific emotional disorders, as well as drawing on the field of emotion science for insights into deficits in emotion regulation. It discusses the seven modules of UP, and focuses on four core strategies: becoming mindfully aware of emotional experience; reappraising rigid emotion laden attributions; identifying and preventing behavioral and emotional avoidance; and facilitating exposure to both interoceptive and situational cues associated with emotional experiences.

Effectiveness of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth L. Varkovitzky ◽  
Andrew M. Sherrill ◽  
Greg M. Reger
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Unified Protocol

Effective treatment options are needed for veterans who do not participate in trauma-focused psychotherapy. Research has yet to examine the effectiveness of transdiagnostic psychotherapy in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring psychological disorders. This pilot study examined the effectiveness of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) delivered in a 16-week group format. We examined treatment outcomes in male and female veterans ( n = 52) in an outpatient specialty PTSD clinic at a large Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. We hypothesized significant decreases in emotion regulation difficulty (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale), PTSD symptom severity (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5), and depressive symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire–9). In addition, we hypothesized that reductions in emotion regulation difficulty across treatment would negatively predict PTSD and depressive symptoms at posttreatment. PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulty all evidenced significant improvements at the end of treatment relative to baseline ( ps < .001). In addition, reductions in emotion regulation across treatment were associated with lower PTSD and depressive symptoms at posttreatment ( ps < .001). This pilot study provides preliminary evidence supporting use of UP among veterans with PTSD and co-occurring disorders. Well-designed clinical trials evaluating efficacy of UP among veterans are needed.

Transdiagnostic Assessment and Case Formulation

2017 ◽  
pp. 17-37
Author(s):  
Hannah Boettcher ◽  
Laren R. Conklin
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Emotional Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Case Formulation ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Dimensional Assessment

This chapter describes a transdiagnostic, emotion-focused approach to case formulation that facilitates individualized application of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). We begin by highlighting the advantages of dimensional assessment and classification in the domain of emotional disorders. Next, we describe the elements of case conceptualization essential to the UP, including assessment of strong uncomfortable emotions, aversive reactions to emotional experiences, and efforts to escape or avoid these experiences. We provide examples of such processes, suggestions for how to elicit relevant information from patients, and a worksheet for conducting case formulation within the UP framework. Finally, we preview a recently developed self-report instrument that uses dimensional assessment to yield a transdiagnostic profile of emotional disorder features, which may further facilitate treatment planning.

Moving UP from Here

2017 ◽  
pp. 149-160
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Shannon Sauer-Zavala ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Heather Murray Latin ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Treatment Program ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Practice Plan ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Way

Chapter 13 of Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Workbook reviews the treatment program. (1) All emotions, even the ones that feel negative or uncomfortable, provide important information that can motivate us to take action in helpful ways. (2) Staying present in the moment and taking a nonjudgmental view of emotions can help to prevent emotions from increasing in intensity. The way we think about a situation influences how we feel, and how we feel affects the way we interpret a situation. (3) Although avoiding uncomfortable emotional experiences can work well in the short-term, it isn’t an effective long-term coping strategy. The chapter helps us to evaluate our progress and revisit our treatment goals. The most effective way to maintain progress and to keep improving is to continue to practice the skills learned in this program, and therefore a practice plan is developed in this last chapter.

Understanding and Confronting Physical Sensations

2017 ◽  
pp. 111-124
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Shannon Sauer-Zavala ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Heather Murray Latin ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
The Third ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Physical Exercises

Chapter 10 of Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Workbook looks at the third part of an emotional experience—the physical sensations associated with our emotions. Physical sensations refer to any physical symptoms that we might experience during strong emotions (e.g., racing heart, sweating, or nausea). We learn to identify these physical sensations and how they impact our experience of emotions. We then learn to confront uncomfortable physical sensations through physical exercises designed to bring on the sensations that come up when we have strong emotions. We do this because facing physical sensations over and over makes them easier to tolerate.

Mindful Emotion Awareness

2017 ◽  
pp. 61-76
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Shannon Sauer-Zavala ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Heather Murray Latin ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Mindful Awareness ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Meditation Exercise

Chapter 7 of Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Workbook presents the benefits of applying mindful awareness, a nonjudgmental present-focused stance, to emotional experiences. Mindful awareness is first practiced through a formal meditation exercise that introduces readers to applying this quality of attention to their emotions. Next, readers are encouraged to continue practicing mindful emotion awareness though the use of a Mindful Mood Induction exercise. Finally, the chapter continues by focusing on the Anchoring in the Present skill, which allows us to apply the concept of mindful emotion awareness to emotional experiences as they are coming up in daily life.

Introduction to the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children (UP-C)

2017 ◽  
pp. 171-180
Author(s):  
Jill Ehrenreich-May ◽  
Sarah M. Kennedy ◽  
Jamie A. Sherman ◽  
Emily L. Bilek ◽  
Brian A. Buzzella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Chapter 10 introduces the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children (UP-C). This is also called the “Emotion Detectives” program, which reflects the guiding treatment metaphor: teaching children to “solve the mystery of their emotions,” as detectives might. The UP-C is intended to reduce the intensity and frequency of symptoms common to youth with emotional disorders by using core evidence-based treatment strategies in a broad manner that applies to a wide range of aversive emotional experiences characteristic of youth emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety, depression, other internalizing disorders). Many anxiety, depression, adjustment, traumatic stress-related, or obsessive-compulsive or related disorders would be appropriate targets for this intervention. The UP-C is intended for children between the ages of 7 and 13, although children slightly above or below this age group may benefit from this format.

Module 3: Mindful Emotion Awareness

2017 ◽  
pp. 81-96
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Shannon Sauer-Zavala ◽  
Heather Murray Latin ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Open Approach ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Mindful Awareness ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Over Time

Chapter 8 of Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Therapist Guide introduces patients to cultivating a nonjudgmental, present-focused stance toward their emotional experiences. The previous module asked patients to monitor to how their emotions unfold over time. This module builds on that work by encouraging patients to incorporate mindful awareness that moves beyond simply paying attention to these experiences. The principles of mindfulness are very consistent with the overall goal of the UP—to develop a more open, approach-oriented relationship with emotions.

scholarly journals Emotion regulation as the mediator of reductions in anxiety and depression in the Unified Protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders: double-blind randomized clinical trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-236
Author(s):  
Sahel Khakpoor ◽  
Omid Saed ◽  
Alireza Armani Kian
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Beck Anxiety Inventory ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

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.

Countering Emotional Behaviors

2017 ◽  
pp. 95-110
Author(s):  
David H. Barlow ◽  
Shannon Sauer-Zavala ◽  
Todd J. Farchione ◽  
Heather Murray Latin ◽  
Kristen K. Ellard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Transdiagnostic Treatment ◽  
Unified Protocol ◽  
Alternative Action ◽  
The Future ◽  
Alternative Behaviors ◽  
Long Term Consequences

Chapter 9 of Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Workbook looks at another part of our emotional experiences—emotional behaviors, which refer to the things we do to manage our emotions. This chapter presents skills to help us identify and evaluate our emotional behaviors by examining both the short term and long term consequences of these actions. In general, unhelpful emotional behaviors provide short term relief from strong emotions but set us up to experience even more strong emotions in the future. Lastly, we learn to counter unhelpful emotional behaviors by replacing current emotional behaviors with new, alternative behaviors, a skill called choosing an Alternative Action.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document