The efficacy of integrated transdiagnostic treatment in reducing worry, anxiety, depressive and emotional regulation in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition, characterized by an individual’s excessive and persistent worry about various social situations. It is a common problem which can induce numerous physical and mental alterations in the person affected.

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated transdiagnostic treatment approach in alleviating symptoms of worry, anxiety, and depression and improving emotional regulation in patients diagnosed with GAD.

In this semi-experimental study, a pretest-posttest, control group design with a follow-up was employed. The research population consisted of all clients aged 18-51 years with GAD in Sanandaj, Iran, during 2018. The research sample comprised 20 patients diagnosed with GAD based on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These diagnoses were confirmed through structured interviews conducted by a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist. The samples were selected via convenience sampling and randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. The research utilized several assessment tools, including the Beck Depression Inventory (1961), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (1988), the Pennsylvania Anxiety Inventory (1990), and the Emotional Regulation Inventory (2008). The collected data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance test in SPSS Version 24 software.

According to the results, the integrated transdiagnostic treatment had an impact on reducing anxiety and depression. However, it was not effective in alleviating anxiety and improving emotional regulation in patients with GAD (P≤0.001).

The integrated transdiagnostic treatment method utilized in this study proved to be effective in alleviating worry and depression in patients diagnosed with GAD. Consequently, it is recommended for use in the therapeutic management of worry and depression symptoms in individuals suffering from GAD.