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

Transdiagnostic psychotherapies offer potential advantages to traditional, disorder-specific approaches, including coverage of comorbidity, dissemination and implementation, and patient access. Although initial investigations testing the efficacy and capability to be disseminated exist, very few studies have tested these interventions within group settings.

The present study involved a randomized clinical trial of Group Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy (G-TBT) and matching group disorder-specific therapies (G-DST) in 243 veterans with major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical symptom outcomes, patient satisfaction and participation, and access in terms of days between intake and the initiation of treatment were examined. G-DSTs were Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Groups were initiated as soon as at least 6 participants were assigned.

As expected, clinical outcomes for MDD and PTSD symptoms were consistently reduced in G-TBT within principal diagnostic groups, as well as associated symptoms and functional impairment. These outcomes were generally consistent with outcomes in the G-DSTs. While therapy satisfaction was similar across groups, significantly faster group assignment and less attrition were observed in G-TBT compared to G-DSTs.

Together, the present findings provide support for the efficacy of G-TBT and with comparable effects to well-established G-DSTs for MDD and PTSD, but with potentially improved access to care via transdiagnostic assignment compared to tradition disorder-specific assignment for group therapies.