Background: The Unified Protocol (UP) for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders (EDs) has demonstrated its efficacy in improving dimensions shared by EDs, but there is insufficient evidence regarding the specific symptoms of each ED. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the UP applied in a group format compared with individual Treatment as Usual (TAU), in improving specific ED symptoms.
Methods: The study sample (n=243) was a subset of participants of a randomized controlled trial conducted in the Spanish public health system. Specific symptoms assessed from pre-treatment to the six-month follow-up were: depressive, agoraphobic, generalized anxiety, panic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Personality dimensions and quality of life were also measured.
Results: There were statistically significant changes after the UP in all the study variables (0.44 = d = 1.35). Changes in depressive symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and perceived quality of life were superior in the UP.
Conclusions: The results support the efficacy of group UP for improving both transdiagnostic dimensions and specific ED symptoms, as well as quality of life, through the public health-care system.