https://doi.org/10.1177/1534650119845503
Clinical Case Studies
1–18
© The Author(s) 2019
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1534650119845503
journals.sagepub.com/home/ccs
Reviews
Attending to the Alliance in the
Application of the Unified Protocol
for the Transdiagnostic Treatment
of Emotional Disorders: A Case
Study
Joseph M. Donahue
1
, Julia M. Hormes
1
, Elana B. Gordis
1
,
and Drew A. Anderson
1
Abstract
As conceptualizations of mood and anxiety disorders shift toward a dimensional approach,
transdiagnostic treatments have gained recognition and support. The Unified Protocol for
the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is an evidence-based cognitive
behavioral therapy that targets the core processes that underlie common and comorbid mental
disorders. It is designed to help clients learn how to confront, experience, and respond to their
emotions in adaptive ways through the modification of their emotion regulation strategies. The
current case study describes the flexible application of the UP with a treatment-naïve 25-year-
old female who presented to outpatient therapy with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Additions to the UP were made to address issues related to the therapeutic alliance and
information discovered over the course of treatment. Outcome measures administered to
the client reflect significant symptom improvement and add to a growing body of literature
that supports the usefulness of transdiagnostic approaches to treating a range of disorders.
Moreover, quantitative and qualitative data point to the necessity for clinicians to attend to
the therapeutic alliance and consider cultural factors when delivering manualized treatment
approaches to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Keywords
transdiagnostic, Unified Protocol, therapeutic alliance, emotional disorders
1 Theoretical and Research Basis for Treatment
Mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders and cause
significant distress and impairment (Rapaport, Clary, Fayyad, & Endicott, 2005), as well as a
substantial social and economic costs (Simon, 2003). In the United States, approximately 28.8%
of the population will meet diagnostic criteria for at least one anxiety disorder in their lifetime
1
University at Albany, State University of New York, USA
Corresponding Author:
Joseph M. Donahue, Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400
Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
Email: jdonahue@albany.edu
845503CCS XX X 10.1177/1534650119845503Clinical Case StudiesDonahue et al.
review-article 2019