Transdiagnostic treatment in a clinical case of high comorbidity of emotional disorders: Application of the unified protocol

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of the Unified Protocol (UP, Barlow et al., 2011) in the treatment of a woman diagnosed with recurrent major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobia of needles. The intervention consisted of nine individual sessions that took place at a Public Mental Health Center in Madrid (Spain). The results showed a significant pre- to post-treatment reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as improvements in various transdiagnostic constructs. These favorable results, that were maintained in the 3- and 6- month follow-up assessments, support the hypothesis that the UP has positive effects in cases of high comorbidity treated in the public mental health context.