A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Group Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy (TBT) and Group Disorder-Specific...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
• Clinical Psychology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Transdiagnostic psychotherapies offer advantages over traditional, disorder-specific approaches for managing comorbid conditions and improving patient access.
• Group-based transdiagnostic interventions are understudied despite their potential for wider dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy, patient satisfaction, participation, and access of Group Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy (G-TBT) versus group disorder-specific therapies (G-DST) in veterans.
• To evaluate G-TBT's effectiveness for major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a group setting.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 243 veterans diagnosed with MDD and/or PTSD.
• Comparison of G-TBT against matching G-DSTs (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD).
• Assessment of clinical symptom outcomes, patient satisfaction, participation, and treatment initiation time.

Main Results:

• G-TBT demonstrated consistent reductions in MDD and PTSD symptoms, comparable to G-DSTs.
• Patient satisfaction levels were similar across both G-TBT and G-DST groups.
• G-TBT showed significantly faster group assignment and lower attrition rates compared to G-DSTs.

Conclusions:

• G-TBT is an effective group therapy for veterans with MDD and PTSD, yielding outcomes similar to established G-DSTs.
• Transdiagnostic assignment in G-TBT may improve access to mental healthcare compared to traditional disorder-specific group assignments.
• Findings support G-TBT as a viable and potentially more accessible alternative for group mental health treatment.