Transdiagnostic Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in a Group Format Based on the Principles of the Unified Protocol: a Preliminary Intensive Measurement Examination of Process and Outcome

We describe a transdiagnostic treatment for anxiety disorders in community mental health centers (CMHCs), based on the Unified Protocol (Barlow et al. 2011), and adapted to a group format (UP-G). Participants were 13 CMHC patients in an intensive measurement design. Participants were interviewed for anxiety severity at pre- and post-treatment and completed weekly self-reports of distress, emotion dysregulation, valued living, fear of bodily sensations, and therapeutic alliance. We observed significant improvements in all measures except for valued living. Improvements in emotion regulation preceded and predicted subsequent reductions in distress as well as the other way around. Improvements in alliance co-occurred with reductions in distress. The UP-G is a flexible intervention that is suitable for CMHCs and may assist in reducing the burden of anxiety disorders and improving dissemination. These preliminary findings suggest that improvements in emotion regulation may play an important role in facilitating change in the UP-G.