The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders and Physical Health Comorbidity

Abstract

Abstract This chapter introduces the Unified Protocol (UP) concerned with the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. Commonalities between emotional disorders are expressed in high rates of comorbidity, similar rates of treatment response, and shared neurobiological vulnerabilities. The chapter elaborates on how neuroticism significantly contributes to the co-occurrence of mental disorders. Thus, the purpose of UP revolves around helping patients understand and recognize their emotions and respond to them in more effective ways through its eight modules that span approximately 16 sessions. A transdiagnostic, emotion-focused approach is a suitable treatment for targeting the underlying mechanisms driving co-occurring conditions that involve emotional dysregulation.