A Transdiagnostic Course for Common Mental Health Problems in Primary Care

This study investigates the feasibility of a transdiagnostic course that is intended to work for a large variety of patient groups with clinically significant depression or anxiety in primary care. This is a prospective single-group study where 68 adults with clinically significant symptoms of depression or general anxiety, and up to 25 adults with subclinical symptoms, attend up to 6 weekly structured large-group course sessions which focus on evidence-based strategies to reduce psychiatric symptoms and increase wellbeing. If necessary, due to the covid-19 pandemic, the course will be held online.

Background: Depression and the common anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and associated with disability and reduced quality of life. There is reason to believe that the majority of these patients are found in primary care. Official Swedish guidelines dictate that primary care clinics are responsible for treating mild to moderate cases, but access to treatment is limited. Transdiagnostic psychological interventions have been found to be efficacious for anxiety and mood disorders, and require a relatively rudimentary pre-treatment assessment. A large-group transdiagnostic course based on cognitive-behavioral principles may constitute an effective use of limited resources to improve access to treatment, and offer a sufficiently effective intervention, for most primary care patients with mild to moderate mental health problems. Aim: To investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a large-group transdiagnostic intervention for depression and clinically significant anxiety in Swedish primary care. Design: This is a prospective single-group feasibility study where 68 adults with clinically significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, and up to 25 adults with subclinical symptoms, are recruited from Liljeholmen primary care clinic, Stockholm, and offered 6 weekly structured transdiagnostic large-group course sessions which focus on evidence-based strategies to reduce psychiatric symptoms and increase wellbeing. If necessary, due to the covid-19 pandemic, the course will be held online. The primary outcome is patient satisfaction. Secondary outcomes include within-group effects on psychiatric symptoms (response rates), adherence rates, need for additional treatment, and adverse events.