The Effect of Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment on the Improvement of Internalizing Behavioral Problems, Emotional Regulation, and Empathy in Children with Anxiety Disorders

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Unified Transdiagnostic treatment on improving internalizing behavioral problems, emotional regulation, and empathy in children with anxiety disorders. The present study was a single case pilot design of multiple baseline designs with different subjects that were performed on three patients (8,9,10 years) in 15 sessions with two follow-up periods of 2 months. Data were analyzed using visual drawing methods, stable change index, and recovery percentage. The instruments used included a Child Behavioral Checklist (parent form), an Emotion Regulation Checklist, and Griffith Empathy Measure. The results of Unified Transdiagnostic treatment showed that all three children with anxiety disorders, during treatment and after treatment, showed a significant reduction in child behavioral scores, emotion regulation, and empathy, and therapeutic achievements were maintained during the two 2-month periods. The results showed the effectiveness of Unified Transdiagnostic treatment in the scores of subscales of internalizing behavioral problems in the child's behavioral list, emotion regulation subscales, and empathy subscales in children with anxiety disorders.