Cited by 49Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

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

O'Donnell, Meaghan L., Lau, Winnie, Chisholm, Katherine, Agathos, James, Little, Jonathon, Terhaag, Sonia, Brand, Rachel, Putica, Andrea +6 more·2021·Journal of Traumatic Stress

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.

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Authors
O'Donnell, M. L., Lau, W., Chisholm, K., Agathos, J., Little, J., Terhaag, S., Brand, R., Putica, A., Holmes, A. C. N., Katona, L., Felmingham, K. L., Murray, K., Hosseiny, F., & Gallagher, M. W.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health Melbourne Australia
  • The Royal Melbourne Hospital (AU)
  • The Alfred Hospital (AU)
  • Centre of Excellence on Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder Ottawa Canada
  • University of Houston (US)
Corresponding author
O'Donnell, Meaghan L.
Venue
Journal of Traumatic Stress
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-01-16
Volume
34
Issue
3
Pages
563-574
ISSN
  • 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6598
OpenAlex
W3125404936
Cited by
49
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 3
FWCI
5.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council (Program Grant APP1073041)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Keywords
Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, transdiagnostic treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma-related psychopathology, depression, anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, severe injuries, treatment efficacy, symptom severity
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Pilot Projects, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

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