Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
https://trends.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/2237-6089-2018-0074
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Original Article

Emotion regulation as the mediator of reductions in anxiety and depression in the Unified Protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders: double-blind randomized clinical trial

Regulação emocional como mediadora de reduções em ansiedade e depressão no Protocolo Unificado para o tratamento transdiagnóstico de transtornos psicológicos: ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego

Sahel Khakpoor; Omid Saed; Alireza Armani Kian

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2237-6089-2018-0074 Trends Psychiatry Psychother, vol.41, n3, p.227-236, 2019
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Abstract

Abstract Objective: An important subject in evaluation of the efficacy of treatments is to examine how the intervention is effective and to identify the consequences of that treatment. In this regard, the current study investigates the role of emotion regulation as the mediator of the treatment outcomes of therapy using the Unified Protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders. Method: This article describes a double-blind randomized clinical trial. A sample of 26 individuals was selected based on cut-off scores for the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory and their final diagnoses were confirmed with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (ADIS-IV). The sample was randomly divided into two groups: control and treatment (13 patients each). The treatment group received 20 one-hour UP sessions. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were administered at two stages, pre-treatment and post-treatment. Results: The UP reduced anxiety and depression in patients through improvement in emotion regulation. Furthermore, the results showed that the difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior and non-acceptance of emotional response subscales were capable of predicting 62% of variance in anxiety scores. In turn, two subscales, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior and lack of emotional clarity, predicted 72% of variance in depression scores. Conclusion: Emotion regulation can be considered as a potential mediating factor and as predictive of outcomes of transdiagnostic treatment based on the UP. Clinical trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2017072335245N1.

Keywords

Emotion regulation, mediator, treatment outcomes, unified protocol, randomized clinical trial

Resumo

Resumo Objetivo: É importante, na avaliação da eficácia de tratamentos, examinar como a intervenção tem efeito e identificar suas consequências. O presente estudo investiga o papel da regulação emocional enquanto mediadora de desfechos do tratamento que emprega o Protocolo Unificado (PU) para o tratamento transdiagnóstico de transtornos psicológicos. Método: Este artigo descreve um ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego. Uma amostra de 26 indivíduos foi selecionada com base em escores pré-estabelecidos para o Inventário de Depressão de Beck e o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck, e seus diagnósticos finais foram confirmados utilizando o instrumento Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (ADIS-IV). A amostra foi dividida aleatoriamente em dois grupos: controle e tratamento (13 pacientes em cada). O grupo tratamento recebeu 20 sessões de PU de 1 hora cada. O Inventário de Depressão de Beck, Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck Beck e Escala de Dificuldades de Regulação Emocional foram administrados em duas etapas, antes e depois do tratamento. Resultados: O PU reduziu a ansiedade e a depressão em pacientes, ao melhorar a regulação emocional. Além disso, os resultados mostraram que as subescalas dificuldade de se engajar em comportamentos orientados por objetivos e não aceitação de resposta emocional responderam por 62% da variância nos escores de ansiedade. Nos escores de depressão, duas subescalas, dificuldade de se engajar em comportamentos orientados por objetivos e falta de claridade emocional, explicaram 72% da variância. Conclusão: A regulação emocional pode ser considerada o principal fator mediador e também preditora de desfechos do tratamento transdiagnóstico baseado no PU. Registro do ensaio clínico: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2017072335245N1.

Palavras-chave

Regulação emocional, mediador, desfechos de tratamento, protocolo unificado, ensaio clínico randomizado

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