SFGT for Persistent Anxiety and Depression

Rationale: Although there are effective treatments available for anxiety and depression, there is a large group of clients that does not benefit sufficiently from first-choice treatment. For this group of clients, no suitable alternative exists yet. One of the main hypothesis about maintaining factors is that there are underlying personality features that impede recovery. Schema focused therapy (SFT) is a transdiagnostic therapy focusing on underlying personality features. It has been proven to be an effective therapy for people with personality disorders and there are initial indications that SFT is also an effective treatment for anxiety and depressive symptoms. A short-term schema focused group therapy (SFGT) has been developed within GGZ-NHN, which is expected to benefit clients with persistent anxiety and depressive symptoms, but has not yet been studied. Objective of the study: In the present study the effectiveness of short-term SFGT (protocol of De Jager, Burger \& Groot) on (1) persistent anxiety and depressive symptoms, and (2) early maladaptive schemas (EMS), experiential avoidance and the mode of the healthy adult will be investigated.

Study design: A Single Case Experimental Design (SCED), using repeated measures over four different phases.