Recent advances in clinical practice emphasize the utility of Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) as an effective intervention for targeting core processes underlying comorbid disorders. This study aimed to evaluate changes in psychopathological risk factors associated with the construct of neuroticism (i.e., negative affect, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty) within the UP to adults already on an optimal and stable dose of SSRIs. In a randomized controlled trial, a total of 39 adults (M age = 27.51 [68.43]; 56.4% female) on SSRIs with a diagnosis of comorbid anxiety and depressive disorder were randomly assigned to either UP þ SSRI (n = 18) or continued SSRI-only (n = 21). Neuroticism dimensions were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up. UP þ SSRI condition demonstrated medium to large effect sizes for changes over time on facets of neuroticism including negative affect (Cohen's d = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.44, 1.80]), anxiety sensitivity (Cohen's d = 1.21, 95% CI [0.53, 1.90]), experiential avoidance (Cohen's d = 0.74, 95% CI [0.09, 1.04]), and intolerance of uncertainty (Cohen's d = 1.66, 95% CI [0.93, 2.39]). Post hoc analyses showed reductions in variables that were maintained at followup. Results adds to the growing body of literature and provide cross-cultural support for the utility of UP in targeting pathological risk factors as adjuncts to SSRI. Implications for future studies and limitations are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.