Emergence of Transdiagnostic Treatments for PTSD and Posttraumatic Distress

Abstract

Both theoretical and empirical findings have demonstrated similarities across diagnoses, leading to a growing interest in transdiagnostic interventions. Most of the evidence supporting transdiagnostic treatment has accumulated for depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, with minimal attention given to posttraumatic stress disorder and other reactions to traumatic stressors. Although single-diagnosis protocols are effective for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders, in principle, transdiagnostic approaches may have beneficial applications within a traumatized population. This paper defines different types of transdiagnostic treatments, reviews transdiagnostic approaches used in related disorders, and discusses their applicability to PTSD. Examples are drawn from existing transdiagnostic treatments in order to provide a framework for the application of such interventions to the field of traumatic stress. Implications for implementation and dissemination are also discussed.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Co‐Occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorders in Veterans: Pilot Treatment Outcomes

“…Notably, participants with alcohol dependence were excluded from this trial, limiting generalizability to people with PTSD–AUD; however, a manual development study suggests that ACT for PTSD–AUD is feasible (Hermann, Meyer, Schnurr, Batten, & Walser, ). This nascent literature, combined with broader calls to study transdiagnostic treatments for PTSD (Gutner et al., ), substantiates additional research examining ACT for PTSD–AUD.…”

“…Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, ), an acceptance‐ and mindfulness‐based form of behavior therapy grounded in a transdiagnostic theory (Gutner, Galovski, Bovin, & Schnurr, ) that posits that a primary source of psychopathology is psychological inflexibility, is one such approach. Psychological inflexibility refers to an inability to engage in functional, values‐based behavior in the presence of unwanted internal experiences (i.e., negatively evaluated thoughts, memories, emotions, and physical sensations).…”

Treatment of military-related post-traumatic stress disorder: challenges, innovations, and the way forward

“…As noted above, although it is not yet known whether these non-trauma focus interventions will improve outcomes for military personnel or veterans who do not respond to first-line treatments, they may be more acceptable to those who express a strong preference not to engage in trauma focused work. Similarly, in recognition that PTSD is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, transdiagnostic approaches are becoming increasingly considered as a useful approach for trauma related pathology (Gutner, Galovski, Bovin, & Schnurr, 2016).…”

When less is more: reducing redundancy in mental health and psychosocial instruments using Item Response Theory

“…The growth of transdiagnostic treatments worldwide provides an opportunity for brief measures to be integrated into the provision of care itself. Psychotherapy broadly, and the field of global mental health more specifically, is increasingly moving toward an intervention delivery system based on a common elements, or transdiagnostic, treatment approach (Farchione and Bullis, 2014;Murray et al, 2014;Newby et al, 2015;Gutner et al, 2016;Barlow and Farchione, 2017). A modular, multi-problem transdiagnostic approach that is designed to train providers in common elements that exist across a number of evidence-based mental health treatments (e.g.…”