A preliminary evaluation of unified protocol in anxiety disorders in India: a multiple baseline study protocol

Authors

  • Arunya B. Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Paulomi Matam Sudhir Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7305-0963
  • Shyam Sundar Arumugham Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3259.ijct20230054

Keywords:

Transdiagnostic interventions, Unified Protocol, Anxiety Disorders, Multiple Baseline design, Shared mechanism, Emotion regulation

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent with high rates of comorbidity. Single disease protocols have been the predominant choice of psychological treatment, however, there has been an increasing focus on transdiagnostic, shared mechanisms. Unified protocol is an emotion-focused CBT that addresses core vulnerabilities by training individuals in adaptive emotion regulation skills. UP has gained research attention in the management of emotional disorders with its modular approach. A challenge in psychotherapy research has been to understand the mechanisms of interventions and their effect on symptoms. Thus single-case experimental design has the potential to address some of the key questions. We present a research protocol that aims to examine the effectiveness of the unified protocol, using the SCED.

Methods: A single-case experimental design, with multiple baseline assessments, will be employed, with random allocation to 2- or 3-week baselines. Patients with a primary diagnosis of anxiety disorder, consenting to baseline assessments, and stabilized at least for 4 weeks of medication will be recruited. Assessments will be carried out at baseline, post, and three months, in addition to weekly assessments on the primary outcome measure, anxiety by an independent blind rater. Secondary outcomes include intolerance to uncertainty, neuroticism, emotion regulation, and anxiety sensitivity.

Conclusions: The findings of this study would contribute to the empirical status of transdiagnostic interventions in symptom reduction and in addressing shared mechanisms, enhancing its clinical relevance for co-morbid disorders.

Trial Registration: The study has been registered in clinical trials registry of India, No. CTRI/2021/01/030803; 28 January 2021.

Author Biography

Paulomi Matam Sudhir, Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore

Professor in Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, and consultant at the  Behavioural Medicine, Department of Clinical Psychology

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Published

2023-01-23