Journal article
A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Treating Posttraumatic Psychopathology: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Traumatic Stress, Vol.34(3), pp.563-574
2021
PMID: 33453140
Abstract
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.
Details
- Title
- A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Treating Posttraumatic Psychopathology: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Meaghan L O'Donnell (Corresponding Author) - The University of MelbourneWinnie Lau (Author) - The University of MelbourneKatherine Chisholm (Author) - The University of MelbourneJames Agathos (Author) - The University of MelbourneJonathon Little (Author) - The University of MelbourneSonia Terhaag (Author) - The University of MelbourneRachel Brand (Author) - The University of MelbourneAndrea Putica (Author) - The University of MelbourneAlexander C. N Holmes (Author) - The University of MelbourneLynda Katona (Author) - Swinburne University of TechnologyKim L Felmingham (Author) - The University of MelbourneKim Murray (Author) - Phoenix Australia Ctr Posttraumat Mental Hlth, Melbourne, Vic, AustraliaFardous Hosseiny (Author) - Centre of Excellence on Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderMatthew W Gallagher (Author) - University of Houston
- Publication details
- Journal of Traumatic Stress, Vol.34(3), pp.563-574
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1002/jts.22650
- ISSN
- 1573-6598
- PMID
- 33453140
- Data Availability
- The data and materials used in this study have not been made available on a permanent third-party archive. Consent was not obtained from participants to make their individual data publicly available; however, requests for other materials should be sent via email to the lead author at mod@unimelb.edu.au .
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99513908802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- Psychology, Clinical
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