Applying the Unified Protocol Transdiagnostic Treatment to Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury and Co‐Occurring Emotional Disorders: A Case Illustration. Issue 5 (21st February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bentley, Kate H.
• Other Names: Cha Christine B. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 73:Issue 5(2017:May)
• Page Start: 547
• Page End: 558
• Publication Date: 2017-02-21
• Subjects: nonsuicidal self‐injury -- emotional disorders -- transdiagnostic -- unified protocol; Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

Abstract : This article presents the use of a transdiagnostic, emotion‐focused treatment with a young woman with nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI), social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The patient also presented with subclinical depressive, posttraumatic stress, and eating disorder symptoms. The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (Barlow et al., 2011), a cognitive‐behavioral intervention designed to be applicable across anxiety, depressive, and related disorders with strong emotional components, was used to address the range of Laura's presenting concerns. After 16 individual treatment sessions, Laura experienced significant reductions in NSSI (and urges to engage in NSSI) as well as observable improvements in her self‐reported ability to respond more adaptively to intense emotion. She also reported moderate reductions in her anxiety disorder symptoms. This case illustration demonstrates how a short‐term, transdiagnostic treatment approach can be flexibly applied to a variety of problems maintained by aversive and avoidant reactions to intense emotion.