NCT04584879

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this study is to explore whether the efficiency of treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders can be increased using two discrete strategies: personalized skill ordering and 2) treatment discontinuation based on proximal indicators of improvements. The present study will specifically use treatment components drawn from an evidence-based psychological intervention, the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). This intervention has strong empirical support for patients presenting with anxiety, depressive, and related disorders and contains therapeutic skills that are common in psychological interventions (e.g., psychoeducation, mindfulness training, cognitive restructuring, countering emotional avoidance, increasing interoceptive tolerance). This study will determine if prioritizing the order of treatment modules to capitalize on patient strengths or compensate for weakensses increases treatmen efficacy. Additionally, it will also identify under what conditions briefer treatment modules may be appropriate.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
72

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2019

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 28, 2019

Completed
11 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 15, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 15, 2020

Completed
21 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 6, 2020

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 14, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

October 14, 2020

Status Verified

October 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

11 months

First QC Date

October 6, 2020

Last Update Submit

October 6, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

Unified ProtocolCognitive Behavioral TherapyPersonalization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Change in Clinical Severity

    Clinical severity will be measured using the Diagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and Obsessive Compulsive and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders (DIAMOND) dimensional clinician ratings. Scores range from 1-7; higher scores indicate greater severity.

    12 weeks (baseline, week 6 and week 12)

  • Change in Anxiety Symptoms

    Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the Overall Anxiety Severity and Interference Scale (OASIS). This is a self-report measure in which scores range from 0-20; higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

    12 weeks (baseline, week 1, week, 2, week, 3.....week 12)

  • Change in Depressive Symptoms

    Depressive symptoms will be measured using the Overall Depression Severity and Interference Scale (ODSIS). This is a self-report measure in which scores range from 0-20; higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

    12 weeks (baseline, week 1, week, 2, week, 3.....week 12)

  • Change in Aversive Reactions to Emotions

    Aversive reactions to emotions will be measured using the distress aversion subscale of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ). This is a self-report measure in which scores range from 13-78; higher scores indicate greater negative reactions to emotional experiences.

    12 weeks (baseline, week 1, week, 2, week, 3.....week 12)

Study Arms (6)

Standard Group, Brief Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 6 sessions of treatment in accordance with the standard, published Unified Protocol (UP) manual.

Behavioral: Standard UP Treatment

Standard Group, Full Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 12 sessions of treatment in accordance with the standard, published Unified Protocol (UP) manual.

Behavioral: Standard UP Treatment

Capitalization Group, Brief Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 6 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that capitalize on patient strengths.

Behavioral: Capitalization UP Treatment

Capitalization Group, Full Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 12 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that capitalize on patient strengths.

Behavioral: Capitalization UP Treatment

Compensation Group, Brief Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 6 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that compensate for patient weaknesses.

Behavioral: Compensation UP Treatment

Compensation Group, Full Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 12 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that compensate for patient weaknesses.

Behavioral: Compensation UP Treatment

Interventions

Participants will receive treatment modules sequenced in accordance with the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP; Barlow et al 2011; 2018).

Standard Group, Brief InterventionStandard Group, Full Intervention

Participants will receive Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) treatment modules organized to prioritize skills that capitalize on patient strengths.

Capitalization Group, Brief InterventionCapitalization Group, Full Intervention

Participants will receive Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) treatment modules organized to prioritize skills that compensate for patient weaknesses.

Compensation Group, Brief InterventionCompensation Group, Full Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • diagnosis of at least one emotional disorder
  • fluent in English
  • medication stability

You may not qualify if:

  • concurrent therapy
  • psychological condition that would be better addressed by alternative treatments
  • have received more than 5 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy in the past 5 years

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Southward MW, Terrill DR, Sauer-Zavala S. The effects of the Unified Protocol and Unified Protocol skills on loneliness in the COVID-19 pandemic. Depress Anxiety. 2022 Dec;39(12):913-921. doi: 10.1002/da.23297. Epub 2022 Nov 13.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety DisordersDepressive DisorderStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticObsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental DisordersMood DisordersStress Disorders, TraumaticTrauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Study Officials

  • Shannon Sauer-Zavala

    University of Kentucky

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 6, 2020

First Posted

October 14, 2020

Study Start

October 28, 2019

Primary Completion

September 15, 2020

Study Completion

September 15, 2020

Last Updated

October 14, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-10

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations