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A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Treating Posttraumatic Psychopathology: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s) -
O'Donnell Meaghan L.,
Lau Winnie,
Chisholm Katherine,
Agathos James,
Little Jonathon,
Terhaag Sonia,
Brand Rachel,
Putica Andrea,
Holmes Alexander C. N.,
Katona Lynda,
Felmingham Kim L.,
Murray Kim,
Hosseiny Fardous,
Gallagher Matthew W.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.22650
Subject(s) - psychopathology , anxiety , agoraphobia , psychiatry , panic disorder , depression (economics) , generalized anxiety disorder , anxiety disorder , randomized controlled trial , panic , psychology , clinical psychology , major depressive episode , medicine , mood , economics , macroeconomics
The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is an intervention that targets common mechanisms that maintain symptoms across multiple disorders. The UP has been shown to be effective across many disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive episode (MDE), and panic disorder, that commonly codevelop following trauma exposure. The present study represented the first randomized controlled trial of the UP in the treatment of trauma‐related psychopathology, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms. Adults ( N = 43) who developed posttraumatic psychopathology that included PTSD, MDE, or an anxiety disorder after sustaining a severe injury were randomly assigned to receive 10–14 weekly, 60‐min sessions of UP ( n = 22) or usual care ( n = 21). The primary treatment outcome was PTSD symptom severity, with secondary outcomes of depression and anxiety symptom severity and loss of diagnosis for any trauma‐related psychiatric disorder. Assessments were conducted at intake, posttreatment, and 6‐month follow‐up. Posttreatment, participants who received the UP showed significantly larger reductions in PTSD, Hedges’ g = 1.27; anxiety, Hedges’ g = 1.20; and depression symptom severity, Hedges’ g = 1.40, compared to those receiving usual care. These treatment effects were maintained at 6‐month follow‐up for PTSD, anxiety, and depressive symptom severity. Statistically significant posttreatment loss of PTSD, MDE, and agoraphobia diagnoses was observed for participants who received the UP but not usual care. This study provides preliminary evidence that the UP may be an effective non–trauma‐focused treatment for PTSD and other trauma‐related psychopathology.