The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children (UP-C) in Portugal: Feasibility Study Results

Brígida Caiado, Ana Góis, Bárbara Pereira, Maria Cristina Canavarro, Helena Moreira, Brígida Caiado, Ana Góis, Bárbara Pereira, Maria Cristina Canavarro, Helena Moreira

Abstract

The Unified Protocol for Children (UP-C) is a transdiagnostic Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy group intervention for children and caregivers targeting the treatment of children's emotional disorders (EDs). The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the UP-C in the Portuguese population using a single-armed design. The participants were 32 children (6-12 years of age) with an ED (anxiety and/or depressive disorder) as a main diagnosis and their parents. All participants received the UP-C intervention and were assessed at pretreatment, midtreatment, posttreatment, and 3 months posttreatment. Children, parents, the clinicians, and an external observer completed questionnaires to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the UP-C (e.g., satisfaction, motivation, and adherence). Children and parents also completed self-report measures assessing the children's anxiety and depression and its interference and severity. The results of the present study support the feasibility and acceptability of the UP-C in Portugal; low dropout rates, high adherence rates, and high levels of child and parent satisfaction and motivation were observed. Moreover, significant reductions over time in children's levels of anxiety and/or depression and of its interference and severity were found and were maintained after 3 months of follow-up. These results are promising and warrant a subsequent randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Keywords: children; emotional disorders; feasibility study; transdiagnostic intervention; unified protocol.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participants Flow Diagram. Note: flowchart adapted by the Consolidated Standard of Reporting Studies Group (CONSORT; Eldridge, Chan, Campbell, Bond, Hopewell, Thabane, et al. CONSORT 2010).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Session-to-session motivation and satisfaction (parents’ (a) and children’s report (b)).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Children’s and parents’ reports on the severity of the three top problems throughout the UP-C intervention. Note. C: children’s report; P: Parents’ report.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The evolution of children’s symptomatology (RCADS total score) and of the interference of the symptomatology in child’s and family life, according to the child’s report (CALIS-C) and parent’s report (CALIS-P).

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