Effectiveness of transdiagnostic treatment on depression/anxiety symptoms and emotion regulation

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent and comorbid disorders. High rates of comorbid depression and anxiety often complicate psychological intervention. The transdiagnostic treatment model based on emotion regulation skills is applicable to a broad range of emotional disorders. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a group transdiagnostic treatment on depressive and anxiety symptoms and emotion regulation. 34 students with comorbid depression and anxiety, subsequent to primary clinical assessment and obtaining study requirements were selected and randomly assigned to either transdiagnostic treatment (n =16 (or a waiting list control group (n =18). The experimental group received eight weekly transdiagnostic sessions. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) were used as outcome measures. The questionnaires were administered immediately before and after the intervention and two months following the termination of the intervention. Results show that transdiagnostic treatment is effective on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as increasing the lilelihood of adopting emotion regulation strategies in participants. Treatment gains are maintained to some extent over the two month follow-up. Given the efficacy of transdiagnostic treatment on the apparent reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety and modifying emotion regulation in students, these results have practical implications for clinicians and counselors engaged in university counseling centers.