The efficacy of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in children on anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty in children with anxiety disorders

One of the most common psychological problems in children and adolescents is anxiety disorders, which are associated with significant psychopathology. Various psychological factors affect anxiety. Although anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty are among the transdiagnostic components in the development of anxiety disorders and transdiagnostic treatment has been effective in these two variables, few kinds of research have been conducted in the researched community.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in children on anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty in children with anxiety disorders.

The research method was experimental with a pre-test-post-test research design and follow-up with the control group. The research population included all female students in the second year of elementary school who studied in the elementary schools of Kehrizk district (Baqer Shahr, Kehrizk, and forty-five villages of this district) in the academic year of 1401-1400. Through random sampling, 30 students from among students who met at least one of the criteria of anxiety disorders based on the scales of the youth anxiety measure for DSM5 and clinical interview were selected as a sample and randomly selected in Two experimental and control groups were assigned. Research tools included the youth anxiety measure for DSM5, the intolerance of uncertainty index A for children, and the childhood anxiety sensitivity index. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze the data.

Data analysis showed that the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment was effective in anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty in children with anxiety disorders (p> 0.05).

Based on the findings of the research, it can be concluded that the integrated protocol of transdiagnostic treatment for children's emotional disorders leads to the improvement of anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty in children with anxiety disorders. It is also suggested to study this protocol in other groups with a larger volume.