Transdiagnostic group cognitive behavioural therapy for emotional disorders in primary care: the results of the PsicAP randomized controlled trial

Emotional regulation as a mediating variable between risk of psychosis and common mental health problems in adolescents

BACKGROUND

The main clinical high-risk of psychosis (CHRp) approaches are focused on core features of schizophrenia that might surface in the prodromal phases, mainly psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) (e.g., prodromal or schizotypal symptoms) or associated phenomena like basic symptoms or anomalous experiences of the self. Given that PLEs vary depending on distress levels, related common mental health problems, emotional regulation (ER) strategies and eventual clinical outcomes, exploring the heterogeneous nature of these PLEs and their psychological correlates could aid in distinguishing between subclinical and clinical psychotic experiences. The present study aims firstly to generate new evidence on the understanding of clinical relevance of PLEs and associated phenomena in a non-clinical representative sample of 1824 Spanish adolescents, according to their CHRp level (high/moderate/low). Secondly, we analyzed the possible mediating effect of three different emotional regulation strategies ((experiential avoidance (EA), cognitive reappraisal (CR) and emotional suppression (ES)) between PLEs and non-specific symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, trauma related distress and substance use. Results showed that a more frequent use of EA and ES resulted in a higher CHRp, with no differences in the use of CR. In addition, EA emerged as a significant mediating factor between CHRp and the development of emotional symptoms and substance use. Emotion regulation strategy may account for heterogeneity in PLE outcomes. The use of EA as a coping strategy for their PLEs in adolescents with CHRp may facilitate the development of common mental health problems such as anxiety, depression or cannabis use pathologies. Helping adolescents at CHRp to use non-avoidant coping strategies may be indicated if their preventive effects are demonstrated.

Screening tools assessing mental illness in primary care: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

To better manage patients with a wide range of mental health problems, general practitioners would benefit from diagnostically accurate and time-efficient screening tools that comprehensively assess mental illness. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify screening tools that either take a multiple-mental disorder or a transdiagnostic approach. As primary and secondary outcomes, diagnostic accuracy and time efficiency were investigated.

METHODS

The data bases MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Psyndex and PsycINFO were searched. Studies reporting on multiple-mental disorder or transdiagnostic screening tools used in primary care with adult patients were included. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value served as measures of diagnostic accuracy. Time efficiency was evaluated by the number of items of a screening tool and the time required for its completion and evaluation.

RESULTS

Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of screening tools assessed multiple mental disorders separately. A sub-group of screening tools took a transdiagnostic approach by examining the spectrum of mood, anxiety and stress-related disorders. One screening tool used internalised, cognitive/somatic and externalised dysfunction as transdiagnostic domains of mental illness. Mostly, a sufficient sensitivity and specificity was reported. All screening tools were found to be time efficient.

CONCLUSION

The eleven identified screening tools can support general practitioners to identify patients with mental health problems. However, there was great heterogeneity concerning their diagnostic scope of psychopathology. Further screening tools for primary care are needed that target broad constructs of mental illness, such as transdiagnostic factors or personality dysfunction.

Treatment coverage for depression in the general Spanish population and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

Background

Despite the availability of effective antidepressant strategies, numerous people with depressive disorders remain untreated. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected healthcare services, especially the mental health sector. This study aims to explore the coverage of depression treatments in the general Spanish population and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods

We used longitudinal data (2018 and 2022) from the general Spanish population: pre-pandemic n = 1512; mean age = 65.43 years ± 14.90; 56 % females; post-pandemic n = 909; mean age = 68.00 years ± 14.24; 54 % women. The International Classification of Disease 10th edition was used to diagnose lifetime depressive episodes and severity. We explored psychological and pharmacological treatment coverage via multiple logistic regressions adjusted for 4 covariates (sex assigned at birth, education level, age, Covid-19 pandemic) for participants with a diagnosis of depression.

Results

Treatment coverage for depression in the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic samples was, respectively, 53.3 % and 51.9 %. We observed an association between severe depression and treatment coverage (OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.05 to 7.75). We found no association between the COVID-19 pandemic and treatment coverage.

Conclusions

The pharmacological treatment coverage was associated with severe types of depression. The prevalence rates of treatment coverage were similar in the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic attesting to the resilience of the mental health system in Spain.

Effect of Reliable Recovery on Health Care Costs and Productivity Losses in Emotional Disorders

Despite the high economic costs associated with emotional disorders, relatively few studies have examined the variation in costs according to whether the patient has achieved a reliable recovery. The aim of this study was to explore differences in health care costs and productivity losses between primary care patients from a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT)-PsicAP-with emotional symptoms who achieved a reliable recovery and those who did not after transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy (TD-CBT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Sociodemographic and cost data were obtained for 134 participants treated at five primary care centers in Madrid for the 12-month posttreatment period. Reliable recovery rates were higher in the patients who received TD-CBT + TAU versus TAU alone (66% vs. 34%, respectively; chi-square = 13.78, df = 1, p < .001). Patients who did not achieve reliable recovery incurred more costs, especially associated with general practitioner consultations (t = 3.01, df = 132, p = .003), use of emergency departments (t = 2.20, df = 132, p = .030), total health care costs (t = 2.01, df = 132, p = .040), and sick leaves (t = 1.97, df = 132, p = .048). These findings underscore the societal importance of achieving a reliable recovery in patients with emotional disorders, and further support the value of adding TD-CBT to TAU in the primary care setting.

Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility study of a psychoeducational group intervention for people with depression and physical comorbidity in primary care

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a psychoeducational group intervention led by primary care (PC) nurses in relation to customary care to prevent the depression and improve quality of life in patients with physical comorbidity.

DESIGN

Economic evaluation based on data from randomized, multicenter clinical trial with blind response variables and a one-year follow-up, carried in the context of the PSICODEP study.

LOCATION

7 PC teams from Catalonia.

PARTICIPANTS

>50 year-old patients with depression and some physical comorbidity: diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and/or asthma.

INTERVENTION

12 psychoeducational group sessions, 1 per week, led by 2 PC nurses with prior training.

MEASUREMENTS

Effectiveness: depression-free days (DFD) calculated from the BDI-II and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from the Euroqol-5D. Direct costs: PC visits, mental health, emergencies and hospitalizations, drugs. Indirect costs: days of temporary disability (TD). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER), cost-effectiveness (ΔCost/ΔDLD) and cost-utility (ΔCost/ΔQALY) were estimated.

RESULTS

The study includes 380 patients (intervention group [IG] = 204; control group [CG] = 176). 81.6% women; mean age 68.4 (SD = 8.8). The IG had a higher mean cost of visits, less of hospitalizations and less TD than the CG. The difference in costs between the IG and the CG was -357.95€ (95% CI: -2026.96 to 1311.06) at one year of follow-up. There was a mean of 11.95 (95% CI: -15.98 to 39.88) more DFD in the IG than in the CG. QALYs were similar (difference -0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.05). The ICERs were 29.95€/DLD and 35,795€/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychoeducational intervention is associated with an improvement in DFD, as well as a reduction in costs at 12 months, although not significantly. QALYs were very similar between groups.

Variables Associated with Emotional Symptom Severity in Primary Care Patients: The Usefulness of a Logistic Regression Equation to Help Clinical Assessment and Treatment Decisions

The aim of this study is to contribute to the evidence regarding variables related to emotional symptom severity and to use them to exemplify the potential usefulness of logistic regression for clinical assessment at primary care, where most of these disorders are treated. Cross-sectional data related to depression and anxiety symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics, quality of life (QoL), and emotion-regulation processes were collected from 1,704 primary care patients. Correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were conducted to identify those variables associated with both depression and anxiety. Participants were then divided into severe and nonsevere emotional symptoms, and binomial logistic regression was used to identify the variables that contributed the most to classify the severity. The final adjusted model included psychological QoL (p < .001, odds ratio [OR] = .426, 95% CI [.318, .569]), negative metacognitions (p < .001, OR = 1.083, 95% CI [1.045, 1.122]), physical QoL (p < .001, OR = .870, 95% CI [.841, .900]), brooding rumination (p < .001, OR = 1.087, 95% CI [1.042, 1.133]), worry (p < .001, OR = 1.047, 95% CI [1.025, 1.070]), and employment status (p = .022, OR [.397, 2.039]) as independent variables, ρ2 = .326, area under the curve (AUC) = .857. Moreover, rumination and psychological QoL emerged as the best predictors to form a simplified equation to determine the emotional symptom severity (ρ2 = .259, AUC = .822). The use of statistical models like this could accelerate the assessment and treatment-decision process, depending less on the subjective point of view of clinicians and optimizing health care resources.

PsicAP transdiagnostic protocol of group cognitive-behavioral training for emotional disorders in Dominican Republic: a randomized controlled trial protocol

Emotional disorders (ED) such as anxiety, depression and somatization are extremely prevalent disorders that can affect an individual's quality of life and functionality. Primary Health Care (PHC) is the first place to identify most patients with these conditions. Mental health services in the Dominican Republic, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean in general, are unable to provide appropriate care for most people with mental disorders. Using evidence-based treatment protocols is also crucial to make progress in helping people with ED. The PsicAP project is a group intervention that uses a transdiagnostic approach and is grounded in cognitive-behavioral techniques. The program is implemented in 7 group sessions, each lasting for one and a half hours. The program has been shown to be effective in reducing clinical symptoms, dysfunction, and in improving quality of life. It is also a non-time-intensive, low-cost treatment that is helpful for addressing EDs in a PHC context. The objective is to bring psychological treatments into PHC facilities of Dominican Republic, making them more accessible for a larger amount of the population.

An interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program for somatic symptom disorder, with predominant (spinal) pain

OBJECTIVE

Although multimodal interventions are generally recommended in patients with long-term somatic symptom disorders (SSD), available evidence is limited. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of an outpatient secondary care interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program for patients with SSD and predominant (spinal) pain.

METHOD

The healthcare program consisted of two active treatment phases: main 20-week program and a 12-month relapse prevention program. Participants were 4453 patients diagnosed with SSD. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed using the RAND-36 (i.e., mental/physical component summary) and secondary outcomes included physical and psychological symptoms assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and RAND-36 subscales. Mixed linear models were used to examine the effects of the multimodal healthcare program on primary/secondary outcomes over four time points: before start 20-week program (T0), halfway 20-week program (T1), end of 20-week program (T2) and end of relapse prevention program (T3).

RESULTS

Significant improvements were found from T0 to T2 for all primary variables (i.e., mental/physical component summary) and secondary variables (i.e., BSI/RAND-36 subscales), which were maintained until the end of the relapse prevention program (T3).

CONCLUSION

An interdisciplinary multimodal integrative treatment for SSD is effective for improving HRQoL and reducing physical and psychological symptoms.

Attachment insecurity predicts outcomes in an ACT-CBT group therapy for adults in a physical rehabilitation centre

Adapting to chronic illness or disability is accompanied by acute and ongoing illness stressors. Psychological factors such as emotional distress and low self-efficacy are common experiences in chronic illness and disability and interfere with adaptation and psychosocial outcomes such as health-related quality of life. Transdiagnostic group psychotherapy may provide a parsimonious approach to psychological treatment in rehabilitation care by targeting shared illness stressors across mixed chronic illnesses and disabilities, and shared processes that maintain psychological symptoms. Attachment theory may explain individual differences in outcomes and help identify individuals at risk of poor health-related quality of life trajectories. Adults (N=109) participated in an 8-week process-based ACT-CBT psychotherapy group at a tertiary care physical rehabilitation centre between 2016 and 2020. Participants completed measures of emotional distress, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, and attachment at pre- and post-treatment. Multilevel analyses indicated that patients improved on most outcomes at post-treatment. Attachment anxiety at pre-treatment was associated with more positive outcomes. Reliable change indices suggest clinically meaningful change for the majority of participants, but most were not recovered. Results provide proof-of-concept for the transdiagnostic group intervention and suggest that a longer course of treatment may be clinically indicated. Results warrant replication with larger and more diverse samples, and more robust designs.

The mediating role of emotion regulation in transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy for emotional disorders in primary care: Secondary analyses of the PsicAP randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Emotional disorders are highly prevalent in primary care. Transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy (TD-CBT) is a promising treatment of emotional disorders. In this study, we evaluated several emotion regulation strategies as potential mediators of treatment outcomes in a clinical sample of primary care.

METHODS

A total of 1061 primary care patients were included in a randomized clinical trial comparing treatment-as-usual (TAU) to TD-CBT+TAU. Of these, 631 (TAU=316; TD-CBT+TAU=315) completed the full treatment and all pre- and post-treatment scales to assess symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization), emotion regulation strategies (worry, rumination, negative metacognition, suppression, cognitive reappraisal), overall functioning, and quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

Treatment and direct effects showed that TD-CBT+TAU was superior to TAU alone. On the multivariate mediation analysis of indirect effects, three maladaptive strategies (worry, rumination and negative metacognition) had significant effects on all emotional symptoms. Suppression was also significant for depression. Rumination and negative metacognition were significant mediators of functioning, while only negative metacognition was significant for QoL. Reappraisal had no effect on any outcome.

LIMITATIONS

We focused mainly on maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and only studied one behavioural strategy (suppression) and one adaptive strategy (reappraisal).

CONCLUSIONS

Targeting certain maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (worry, rumination, suppression, negative metacognition) as mediators for treatment with TD-CBT could reduce emotional symptoms and improve well-being. Negative metacognition was the most transdiagnostic strategy, whereas an adaptive strategy such as reappraisal was not a mediator. Thus, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies are key mediators in transdiagnostic therapy for emotional disorders in primary care.

Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility evaluation of individual vs. group transdiagnostic psychological treatment for emotional disorders in primary care (PsicAP-Costs): a multicentre randomized controlled trial protocol

BACKGROUND

Emotional disorders are common, and they have become more prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a high attendance burden at the specialized level, most emotional disorders in Spain are treated in primary care, where they are usually misdiagnosed and treated using psychotropic drugs. This contributes to perpetuate their illness and increase health care costs. Following the IAPT programme and the transdiagnostic approach, the PsicAP project developed a brief group transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy (tCBT) as a cost-effective alternative. However, it is not suitable for everyone; in some cases, one-on-one sessions may be more effective. The objective of the present study is to compare, in cost-benefit terms, group and individual tCBT with the treatment usually administered in Spanish primary care (TAU).

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, multicentre, and single-blinded trial will be performed. Adults with mild to moderate emotional disorders will be recruited and placed in one of three arms: group tCBT, individual tCBT, or TAU. Medical data and outcomes regarding emotional symptoms, disability, quality of life, and emotion regulation biases will be collected at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 6 and 12 months later. The data will be used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios.

DISCUSSION

This trial aims to contribute to clinical practice research. The involvement of psychologists in primary care and the implementation of a stepped-care model for mental disorders are recommended. Group therapy and a transdiagnostic approach may help optimize health system resources and unblock waiting lists so that people can spend less time experiencing mental health problems.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04847310; Protocols.io: bx2npqde. (April 19, 2021).

The efficacy of a transdiagnostic group cognitive behavioral intervention for Chinese elderly with emotional disorders: A one-year follow-up randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

With the global aging, geriatric emotional disorders have received more and more attention. Psychotherapy is an effective approach for alleviating the symptoms associated with emotional disorder, but the number of experienced therapists is low. Studies should be conducted to explore a low-cost and efficient treatment method. Previous findings indicate that transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy is an effective approach for treatment of emotional disorders. Group therapy is appropriate for the elderly as they are characterized by high levels of loneliness. In this study, we compared and explored the effects of a transdiagnostic group cognitive behavioral intervention (TD-GCBT), a transdiagnostic individual cognitive behavioral intervention (TD-CBT), and treatment as usual (TAU) on treatment of emotional disorders among the elderly.

METHOD

A total of 120 elderly patients diagnosed with emotional disorders were randomly assigned to the TD-GCBT group (40), TD-CBT group (40), and TAU group (40). Changes in symptoms were assessed using HAMD, PHQ-9, HAMA, and GAD-7 scales at baseline, post-treatment (three months), six-month and twelve-months follow-up. The efficacies of the three intervention strategies were compared using linear mixed-effects models. Post-hoc and simple effect analyses were conducted to determine the differences among the three groups.

RESULTS

The HAMD, PHQ-9, HAMA, and GAD-7 scores revealed a significant effect from baseline to 12 months for time (p < 0.001), group (p < 0.001) and time × group interaction (p < 0.001) in TD-GCBT group compared with the TD-CBT group and TAU group. The effect of TD-GCBT (HAMD: Cohen's d (3th month, 6th month, 12th month) = 2.69, 3.98, 4.51; HAMA: Cohen's d = 2.84, 4.13, 5.20) and TD-CBT (HAMD: Cohen's d = 2.55, 2.87, 2.63; HAMA: Cohen's d = 2.43, 2.83, 2.78) group was better relative to that of the TAU group (HAMD: Cohen's d = 0.41, 1.13, 1.46; HAMA: Cohen's d = 0.64, 1.22, 1.57) (p < 0.001). The scores of the TD-GCBT group showed the most significant decrease compared with the other two groups.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that TD-GCBT method is effective for treatment of emotional disorders among the elderly. TD-GCBT is effective for alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms up to at least nine months after treatment. The results indicate that TD-GCBT is a cost-effective and resource-effective strategy and can be used an alternative therapy for treatment of mental disorders.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

[https://www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR1900021806].

The role of cognitive factors in differentiating individuals with somatoform disorders with and without depression

The present study, based on a cross-sectional design, was conducted in the primary care setting with patients presenting somatic symptoms suggestive of somatoform disorders (SFD). The main aim of the study was to determine whether cognitive variables could differentiate between patients with SFD alone and those who also present depressive symptoms suggestive of depression (SFD + depression). All participants (N = 796) completed validated self-report measures to assess somatic, depressive, and/or anxiety symptoms, as well as functional impairment, quality of life (QoL), and cognitive variables (worry, rumination, metacognition, cognitive distortions, and emotion regulation). Univariate and multivariate analyses (controlled for potential sociodemographic and clinical confounders) were performed. On the univariate analysis, significant differences between the SFD and SFD + depression groups were found in sociodemographic and clinical variables, functional impairment, QoL, and cognitive variables. On the multivariate analysis, the only significative variables associated with comorbid SFD + depression were anxiety (β = 0.27; p < 0.001), physical and psychological QoL (β = -0.10; p = 0.01; and β = -0.21; p < 0.001, respectively), and marital status (β = -65; p < 0.05). Cognitive variables were not significantly related to depressive symptoms in patients with SFD. These findings suggest that patients with SFD - with or without comorbid depression - share common cognitive processes and thus both groups could benefit from transdiagnostic cognitive therapy.

Exploring the structure of the GAD-7 scale in primary care patients with emotional disorders: A network analysis approach

OBJECTIVE

Anxiety symptoms are one of the most frequent manifestations in people attending primary care, although how the symptoms are associated is unclear. This study aimed to establish the symptom structure of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) using a novel network approach in combination with traditional analytical tools.

METHODS

A sample of 1704 primary care patients with emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety, depression, and/or somatization) completed the GAD-7 to report their anxiety symptoms. We examined the GAD-7 structure using exploratory graph analysis (EGA) compared to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTS

The EFA results showed a one-factor solution, but EGA revealed a two-factor solution (cognitive-emotional and somatic). "Worrying too much" and "difficulty relaxing" were the most relevant symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the possible distinction between the somatic and cognitive-emotional components of the GAD-7, thus permitting more specific screening in primary care settings.

Effectiveness of brief group transdiagnostic therapy for emotional disorders in primary care: A randomized controlled trial identifying predictors of outcome

AbstractBrief transdiagnostic psychotherapy is a possible approach for emotional disorders in primary care. The objective of the present randomized controlled trial was to determine its effectiveness compared with the treatment as usual based on pharmacological interventions in patients with mild/moderate symptoms. In addition, emotional regulation strategies and cognitive factors were studied as potential predictors. Participants (N = 105) were assigned to brief group therapy based on the Unified Protocol (n = 53) or treatment as usual (n = 52). They were assessed before and after the interventions. Mean differences and stepwise regression analyses were performed. Brief group transdiagnostic psychotherapy was more effective than medication in reducing all clinical symptoms (p = .007 for generalized anxiety; p = .000 for somatization; p = .000 for panic disorder; and p = .041 for depression) and in modifying emotional regulation strategies and cognitive processes (p = .000 for cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, worry, rumination, and metacognition) with moderate/high effect sizes. Besides, it was found that these variables acted as predictors of the therapeutic change. It is concluded that brief therapies could be an accurate treatment for mild/moderate emotional disorders in primary care due to their cost-effective characteristics.

Moderators and predictors of treatment outcome in transdiagnostic group cognitive-behavioral therapy for primary care patients with emotional disorders

OBJECTIVE

Transdiagnostic group cognitive behavior therapy (TD-GCBT) has shown to be efficacious in the treatment of emotional disorders in primary care. However, little is known about possible moderators or predictors of treatment outcome. We aimed to explore the potential predictors and moderators of outcome in a large multicentre randomized controlled trial comparing TD-GCBT plus treatment as usual (TAU) to TAU alone.

METHOD

Putative demographic and baseline clinical variables were examined using the PROCESS macro as potential predictors/moderators of depressive and anxiety symptoms at posttreatment and 1-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Analyses were based on a study completer sample of 1061 participants randomized to TD-CBT + TAU (n = 527) or TAU alone (n = 534), with 631 participants assessed at the posttreatment evaluation and 388 at the 1-year follow-up. Individuals working or with a partner among sociodemographic variables, and higher baseline comorbidities and more severity of symptoms among clinical variables obtained more benefits from adding TDCBT to TAU. Those taking medication before treatment obtained less benefits from the TD-GCBT than those without prescribed antidepressant medications, after controlling for baseline severity of symptoms. Overall, the moderating effect of clinical (but not sociodemographic) variables remained at 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Findings support largely the generalization of the TD-GCBT for emotional disorders in primary care to a variety of sociodemographic and clinical groups. However, TD-GCBT seems to work to a greater extent for those individuals with a more severe clinical profile. Providing TD-GCBT before prescribing antidepressant medication and while people are still working may enhance the effects of adding this psychological treatment to TAU in primary care.