Group Treatment for Anxiety and Depression in a University Outpatient Clinic

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 18-40 with an anxiety disorder and/or depression who want short-term group treatment. A separate group of people without these conditions also takes part.

Age

18 to 40 years

Sex

All sexes can join

Disease stage

An anxiety disorder and/or unipolar depression (ICD F.3x - 4x)

Earlier treatment

Must not be in another psychological treatment. Antidepressant dose must have been stable for at least 6 months. No anxiolytic medication such as benzodiazepines.

Main reasons for not taking part

• Suicidality or self-harm
• Severe psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder, psychosis)
• Substance use disorder
• Use of anxiolytic medication such as benzodiazepines
• Other ongoing psychological treatment

The registry criteria, word for word

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

• Are you between 18 and 40 years old?YesNo

What the trial wants to find out

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and underlying processes of change of the Unified Protocol (UP) for treating emotional disorders in a university outpatient clinic. The study will involve 140 patients receiving UP treatment in a group format, delivered either by experienced or novice therapists, along with a non-clinical control group of 45 participants. Participants will self-refer on the basis of advertisement about the study through flyers, posters, project website, social media or local news media. Outcomes will be assessed through self-report measures of well-being, symptoms, emotion regulation, and the non-specific factors of treatment credibility and therapeutic alliance. Additionally, psychophysiological measures of heart rate variability and interoception will be used to explore processes influencing treatment response. Qualitative interviews will complement the quantitative data by capturing participants' perspectives on the treatment and experiences of what contributed to change.

The group in the trial

• Unified Protocol group treatmentTreatment being tested

  The Unified Protocol (UP) is a time-limited modular treatment addressing core emotion regulation difficulties in patients with emotional disorders. There will be 8-10 patients and two or three therapists in the group. Treatment consists of one individual session of diagnostic assessment, and one or two individual preparation sessions (case formulation and goal setting), and 12 weekly 2 ½ hour group treatment sessions.

  Treatment: Unified Protocol