A Waitlist-Controlled Trial of the Unified Protocol for the Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents

Anxiety and depression are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in youth. Adolescents with anxiety or depression experience persistent emotional distress that can cause problems with school, family, and friends. In addition, anxiety and depressive disorders commonly co-exist, causing further distress for those affected. If left untreated, the difficulties associated with these disorders can persist into adulthood. Fortunately, anxiety and depression are highly treatable using a combination of medications and forms of psychotherapy, but many youth in community settings are unlikely to receive these treatments. An emotion-focused, cognitive behavioral treatment, specifically designed to meet a broad range of treatment needs of adolescents, may provide one way of translating effective treatment components to community settings. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic, emotion-focused, cognitive behavioral treatment program, called the Unified Protocol for the Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A), for youth with anxiety or unipolar depressive disorders. Participants in this study will be assigned to receive either immediate or delayed UP-A program sessions. Study participation will last up to 12 months after beginning treatment. Upon initiation of treatment, parent and child participants will undergo initial assessments that will include questionnaires about anxiety, worry, depression and emotion regulation; and an interview pertaining to the adolescent's anxiety and depression. Both parent and adolescent participants will then attend up to 21 weekly treatment sessions, lasting 60 minutes each. During sessions, participants will learn skills regarding acceptance of intense emotional states, how to actively cope with emotions, and act in healthy ways during anxiety- and depression-provoking situations. Throughout the course of treatment, parent and adolescent participants will be asked to keep records about the adolescent's emotions and functioning. Participants will also be given at-home assignments to practice skills learned in treatment sessions. During and after treatment, participants will complete questionnaires about their thoughts on the treatment sessions. Participants will repeat the initial assessment either following the waitlist delayed treatment condition or 8 weeks into treatment, immediately after the last treatment session as well as at months 3 and 6 of follow-up.