A unified protocol for the group treatment of chilhood anxiety and depression

Abstract

Childhood anxiety and mood disorders are common and are associated with high levels ofimpairment. These disorders share a common etiology and risk factors, and are often experiencedconcurrently. While evidence-based interventions for youth anxiety and depressive disorders do exist,children experiencing this common comorbidity tend to experience weaker treatment outcomes inanxiety or depression focused treatments as compared to youth suffering from either disorder alone.Researchers are now investigating transdiagnostic interventions, which have potential to target commonvulnerability factors and address a wider range of concerns. The Unified Protocol for the Treatmentof Emotional Disorders in Children: Emotion Detectives (UP-C: ED) is a transdiagnostictreatment that implements a set of core principles to address common factors underlying youth anxietyand depressive disorders in a group setting. Theoretical underpinnings of the UP-C: ED are discussedalong with an in-depth presentation of treatment content. A case study is also presented detailinginitial intake, treatment conceptualization, treatment, and treatment outcomes using this modality.