Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36045387›Full record

Trial reportTrials2022

Effectiveness of the internet-based Unified Protocol transdiagnostic intervention for the treatment of depression, anxiety and related disorders in a primary care setting: a randomized controlled trial.

Ladislav Timulak, Derek Richards, Louise Bhandal-Griffin, Patrick Healy, Juliana Azevedo, Graham Connon, Elaine Martin, Aoife Kearney, Conor O'Kelly, Angel Enrique and 7 more

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Trials, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Hope predicts long-term well-being following cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders.Psychotherapy research : journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research · 2026
    Trial
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Ladislav TimulakTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. timulakl@tcd.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2785-0753
Derek RichardsTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Louise Bhandal-GriffinTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Patrick HealyTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Juliana AzevedoHealth Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Graham ConnonHealth Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Elaine MartinHealth Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Aoife KearneyHealth Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Conor O'KellyHealth Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Angel EnriqueTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Nora EilertTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Sorcha O'BrienTrinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Siobhan HartySilverCloud Science, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, Ireland.
Alberto González-RoblesUniversity of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Elizabeth H EustisBoston University, Boston, USA.
David H BarlowBoston University, Boston, USA.
Todd J FarchioneBoston University, Boston, USA.
Trinity College Dublin · IEHealth Service Executive · IESilverCloud (Ireland) · IEUniversidad de Zaragoza · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundResearch has shown that internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) can be a very promising solution to increase access to and the dissemination of evidence-based treatments to all of the population in need. However, iCBT is still underutilized in clinical contexts, such as primary care. In order to achieve the effective implementation of these protocols, more studies in ecological settings are needed. The Unified Protocol (UP) is a transdiagnostic CBT protocol for the treatment of emotional disorders, which includes depression, anxiety and related disorders, that has shown its efficacy across different contexts and populations. An internet-based UP (iUP) programme has recently been developed as an emerging internet-based treatment for emotional disorders. However, the internet-delivered version of the UP (iUP) has not yet been examined empirically. The current project seeks to analyse the effectiveness of the iUP as a treatment for depression, anxiety and related emotional disorders in a primary care public health setting.

methodsThe current study will employ a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial design. Participants will be randomly assigned to (a) the internet-based Unified Protocol (iUP), or (b) enhanced waiting list control (eWLC). Randomization will follow a 2:1 allocation ratio, with sample size calculations suggesting a required sample of 120 (iUP=80; eWLC=40). The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) will be used for assessing potential participants. The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) and the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS) as well as other standardized questionnaires will be used for assessments at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks from baseline and for the iUP condition during the follow-up. DISCUSSION: Combining the advantages of a transdiagnostic treatment with an online delivery format may have the potential to significantly lower the burden of emotional disorders in public health primary care setting. Anxiety and depression, often comorbid, are the most prevalent psychological disorders in primary care. Because the iUP allows for the treatment of different disorders and comorbidity, this treatment could represent an adequate choice for patients that demand mental health care in a primary care setting.

trial registrationISRCTN18056450 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18056450 .

Indexed as

DepressionInternet-Based InterventionAnxietyAnxiety DisordersHumansInternetPrimary Health CareTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID36045387
PMCPMC9429701
OpenAlexW4293767748

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.