Effects of two treatments on interpersonal, affective, and lifestyle features of psychopathy and emotion dysregulation.

This study investigated the relative efficacy of Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) and United Protocol (UP) in reducing symptoms of psychopathy and emotion dysregulation in a sample of Iranian community residents with concurrent diagnoses of antisocial and borderline personality disorders (PDs). Interpersonal, affective, and lifestyle features of psychopathy were measured post-treatment and at 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, and 36-months follow-up using the 13-item version of the Psychopathy Revised-Checklist (PCL-R), which excluded, by design, criminal history features. Emotion dysregulation was measured using the Deficits in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) developed by Gratz and Roemer (2004). After treatment, both UP- and MBT-treated individuals showed significantly fewer features of psychopathy and significantly less emotion dysregulation. Compared with those treated with MBT, UP-treated individuals showed significantly less emotion dysregulation in all DERS subscales and a greater reduction in psychopathy features, particularly affective features. It is suggested that this likely reflected the particular emphasis placed by UP on improving emotional self-regulation and facilitating the therapeutic alliance. These results suggest that, despite the traditional pessimism that surrounds psychopathic individuals' treatability, they can be successfully treated.

Unified Protocol vs Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Adolescents With PTSD.

Harmful consequences of COVID-19, such as prolonged quarantine, lack of social contact, and especially loss of parents or friends, can negatively impact children and adolescents' mental health in diverse ways, including engendering posttraumatic stress symptoms. Our study is the first to compare the transdiagnostic Unified Protocol for the Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A; Ehrenreich et al., 2009; Ehrenreich-May et al., 2017) with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in terms of outcomes related to PTSD symptoms (COVID-19-related vs. COVID-19 unrelated PTSD) and comorbid symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression) and other measures (i.e., emotion regulation, self-injury, anger). Individuals diagnosed with PTSD were randomly assigned to the UP-A (n = 46) or TF-CBT group (n = 47), administered the SCID-5 and a battery of measures and followed up posttreatment and then after 3, 6, and 9 months. Ninety-three adolescents with PTSD were enrolled, 45% boys and 61% COVID-19-related PTSD. We adopted an intention-to-treat approach. At the initial post-intervention assessment, except for emotion regulation and unexpressed angry feelings, in which UP-A participants reported greater reductions, no significant differences in other variables were secured between the UP-A and TF-CBT. However, at follow-up assessments, the UP-A evidenced significantly better outcomes than TF-CBT. We found support for the UP-A compared with TF-CBT in treating adolescents with PTSD, regardless of COVID-19-related PTSD status, in maintaining treatment effectiveness over time.

Application of a transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders to body dysmorphic disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a common disorder which is associated with a high rate of comorbidity and functional impairment. Although research shows that cognitive-behavioral therapy can be an efficacious treatment for BDD, there is growing evidence that dysregulated emotion is a core deficit. The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is a transdiagnostic, emotion focused cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol that has been developed to target emotion regulation processes that play an important role in the development and maintenance of many emotional disorders METHODS: : In the present study, 128 patients meeting criteria for BDD were randomized to either the UP (n = 64) or waitlist/treatment-as-usual (WL/TAU) condition. Diagnoses were determined using semi-structural interviews and patients also completed the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS), the Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). RESULTS: Repeated measure ANOVA indicated that the UP significantly decreased depression, BDD symptoms and body-related anxiety, as well as significantly improving emotional regulation all with large effect sizes compared to the TAU/WL condition. Treatment gains as well as remission of comorbid conditions were maintained at the three-month follow-up. LIMITATIONS: Our study limitations include restricted follow-up periods and excluding participants who were actively suicidal. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first examination of the UP for BDD, and results suggest that this disorder shares common mechanisms with other disorders of emotion, and that the UP may be an additional efficacious treatment for this condition.

Differences between expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal in opioids and stimulant dependent patients.

BACKGROUND: Substance use and affective disorders frequently co-occur, but the role of affective dysregulation in addiction is often overlooked. There is evidence shows that substance - dependent individuals have more problems in regulating their emotions. OBJECTIVES: This study compared two commonly used emotional regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal and suppression, in opioids and methamphetamine dependents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty men with substance dependence (70 Opioids, 70 Methamphetamine) were selected by accessible sampling, and they responded to Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John) and Clinical drug addiction profile (CDAP) questionnaire. SPSS software was used to analyze the results, and descriptive statistics such as frequency tables and inferential statistics including independent t-test were used. RESULTS: Opioids and methamphetamine dependent patients differ in reappraisal strategy (P < 0.01). These groups differ not only in reappraisal strategy, but also in the suppression (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Opioids and methamphetamine dependent individuals used different strategies for regulating their emotions. The key finding was that opioids dependents prefer suppression, and methamphetamine dependents usually use reappraisal for this purpose.