Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39891264›Full record

ArticlePilot and feasibility studies2025

Evaluation of a transdiagnostic mental health intervention in German primary care: study protocol for a parallel-group, two-arm, cluster randomised controlled pilot study.

Christopher Ebert, Marie Vogel, Jochen Gensichen, Hanna Reif, Lena Grögor, Lukas Junker, Thomas Ehring, Alkomiet Hasan, Stefan Leucht, Kirsten Lochbühler and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
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

11 authors.

Christopher EbertInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. christopher.ebert@med.uni-muenchen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-8017-6004
Marie VogelInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jochen GensichenInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0644-8597
Hanna ReifInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Lena GrögorInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Lukas JunkerDepartment Psychology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Thomas EhringDZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Partner Site Munich/Augsburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9502-6868
Alkomiet HasanDZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Partner Site Munich/Augsburg, Germany.
Stefan LeuchtDZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Partner Site Munich/Augsburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4934-4352
Kirsten LochbühlerInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9935-9026
POKAL-Group

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG-GrK 2621
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGeneral practitioners play an important role in the first-line care of individuals with mental health conditions. However, factors such as time constraints, limited experience in managing mental health conditions and high rates of comorbidity may hinder adequate treatment. To improve psychological care, adopting a transdiagnostic approach shows potential. Research on transdiagnostic interventions delivered by general practitioners is scarce. Thus, a transdiagnostic intervention adapted from the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders was developed specifically for primary care. In a parallel-group, two-arm, cluster randomised controlled pilot study, the transdiagnostic intervention will be evaluated for feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness in German primary care.

methodsA total of 100 adult patients with a mental health condition will be recruited by general practitioners. In the intervention group, general practitioners will administer the transdiagnostic intervention, introducing patients to psychological concepts based on transdiagnostic factors (i.e., understanding emotions, cognitive flexibility, countering emotion-based avoidance). In the control group, general practitioners will provide improved treatment as usual oriented on official German treatment guidelines for depression, anxiety and somatoform disorders. In both study groups, treatment will be carried out in four 20-min sessions over 12-weeks. Self-report questionnaires will be completed before treatment initiation (only patients) and after treatment completion (patients and general practitioners) to assess feasibility and acceptability (i.e., treatment recruitment, delivery, response, effectiveness, unintended consequences and maintenance) as well as potential effectiveness (i.e., change in transdiagnostic factors). DISCUSSION: The pilot study will address the research gap concerning general practitioner-led psychological interventions in primary care and will give insights into whether the adoption of a transdiagnostic approach is of benefit to general practitioners and patients. Findings may inform the design of a main trial by identifying barriers to the transdiagnostic intervention's feasibility and acceptability, whilst advancing treatment delivery protocols to support effectiveness.

trial registrationThe protocol for this study has been registered with the German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00033386, Date of registration: 18

Indexed as

Brief Psychological InterventionFamily MedicineGeneral PractitionerMental HealthPilot StudyPrimary CarePsychoeducationRandomised Controlled TrialTransdiagnostic approachUnified Protocol

Identifiers

PMID39891264
PMCPMC11784113

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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.