Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:04
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Symptom Trajectories in Patients With Anxiety Disorders During Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Laura E Meine1,2, Carmen Schaeuffele3, Dominique Recher1,2
1Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, uzh.ch.
Depression and Anxiety
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) shows distinct patient symptom trajectories. Identifying these patterns and predictors like comorbidities can personalize anxiety disorder treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) is effective for various disorders.
- Less is understood about individual symptom changes and predictors during therapy.
- Understanding symptom trajectories can enable early detection of non-responders and treatment adjustments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate symptom trajectories in transdiagnostic CBT using the Unified Protocol (UP) for anxiety disorders.
- To identify predictors of these trajectories from baseline data.
- To examine the association between trajectory classes and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to identify symptom trajectory classes in patients (N=64) undergoing transdiagnostic CBT.
- Baseline data included demographics, clinical history, coping strategies, motivation, and expectations.
- Multilevel modeling and reliable change indices (RCIs) assessed treatment outcomes and class associations.
Main Results:
- Four distinct symptom trajectory classes were identified: low severity-improved, high severity-improved, high severity-stagnant, and low severity-worsened.
- The number of comorbidities significantly predicted class membership, with the high severity-stagnant group having more comorbidities.
- The high severity-stagnant group exhibited higher symptom severity at all assessment points compared to other classes.
Conclusions:
- Distinct latent classes of symptom changes exist during transdiagnostic CBT.
- Pretreatment factors, particularly the number of comorbidities, can predict these trajectories.
- Patients with high initial symptom burden and comorbidities may need tailored monitoring and adaptive treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...