Cited by 883Mental Health Research TopicsPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologyAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Transdiagnostic approaches to mental health problems: Current status and future directions.

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Dalgleish, Tim, Black, Melissa, Johnston, David, Bevan, Anna·2020·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Abstract

, we provide a narrative review of the transdiagnostic literature in order to situate the Special Section articles in context. We begin with a brief history of the diagnostic approach and outline several challenges it currently faces that arguably limit its applicability in current mental health science and practice. We then review several recent transdiagnostic approaches to classification, biopsychosocial processes, and clinical interventions, highlighting promising novel developments. Finally, we present some key challenges facing transdiagnostic science and make suggestions for a way forward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

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  • Transdiagnostic interventions are equivalent to diagnosis-specific interventions.

    “as well as their equivalence to diagnosis-specific interventions [31]”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy as a transdiagnostic approach to adolescents with different anxiety disorders: study protocol. (2025) · cites this paper as [31]

    The “Transdiagnostic Clinical Approaches” section says reviews broadly support equivalence or superiority over comparison conditions, some of which were diagnosis-specific interventions. But “What Would Constitute Success for a Transdiagnostic Intervention?” says direct comparisons with gold-standard diagnosis-led treatments have been rare and predicts lower efficacy for primary disorders, so the unqualified equivalence claim overstates the paper. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • ACT's approach is consistent with the broader concept of transdiagnostic treatment, which aims to address common underlying processes across various disorders, making it potentially more generalisable compared to disorder-specific approaches.

    “ACT's approach is consistent with the broader concept of transdiagnostic treatment, which aims to address common underlying processes across various disorders, making it potentially more generalisable compared to disorder‐specific approaches (Cuijpers et al. 2023; Dalgleish et al. 2020).”

    From Internet‐Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With Interoceptive Exposure for Panic Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Working Alliance Analysis. (2026) · cites this paper as Dalgleish et al. 2020

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. American Psychiatric Association (1952). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (1st ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
  2. Beck A. T., Rush A. J., Shaw B. F., & Emery G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  3. Hayes S. C., & Hofmann S. G. (Eds.). (2018). Process-based CBT: The science and core clinical competencies of cognitive behavioral therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
  4. Watkins E. (2018). Examining transdiagnostic interventions: Reviewing conceptual and methodological issues. Keynote address delivered at the 2018 Conference on Transdiagnostic Approaches to Mental Health Challenges, Cambridge, UK.

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Authors
Dalgleish, T., Black, M., Johnston, D., & Bevan, A.
Affiliations
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (GB)
Corresponding author
Black, Melissa
Venue
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Published
2020-03
Volume
88
Issue
3
Pages
179-195
ISSN
  • 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-2117
OpenAlex
W2996486460
Cited by
883
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 172 · 2025: 183 · 2024: 177 · 2023: 169 · 2022: 96 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 19
FWCI
84.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo (cc-by)
Funders
  • United Kingdom Medical Research Council (SUAG/043 G101400)
  • Wellcome Trust (104908/Z/14/Z; 107496/Z/15/Z)
  • National Institute for Health Research (PB-PG-0214-33072)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
transdiagnostic approach, mental illness, psychiatric classification, diagnostic challenges, transdiagnostic treatment, history of psychiatric diagnosis, future research directions
MeSH terms
Mental Disorders, Humans, Mental Health, Mental Health Services

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