Unified Protocol Application in Fertility Problems

Abstract

Abstract Infertility is a highly prevalent health condition affecting 186 million people worldwide. In recent years, there has been an increased demand for assisted reproduction treatments (ART), which involve a series of procedures that can be highly stressful. Emotional disorders during ART are frequent, but there is an especially high prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, usually with high comorbid rates. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) in addressing emotional disorders in health conditions, but none have been applied in women with fertility problems. The results presented in this chapter highlight the feasibility and utility of the UP for the prevention of emotional disorders in women undergoing ART. Future lines of research, such as the use of technology in the implementation of preventive programs in infertile populations, as well as the importance of psychological processes during ART are also discussed.