Transdiagnostic interventions apply the same underlying treatment principles across mental disorders, without any tailoring to a specific diagnosis. Essentially, these interventions are applicable to people who have a range of DSM-5 diagnoses, as different emotional responses from the same cues are addressed.1 Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically exhibit a spectrum of mental health problems, including internalizing and externalizing symptoms. This characteristic raises the issue as to whether a transdiagnostic treatment approach might be effective in these patients.
To address this question, researchers in Canada examined the efficacy of a manual and individually delivered 10-session transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy (tCBT) treatment aimed at improving emotional regulation and mental health difficulties in children with ASD. Based on informant (parent and clinician) reports, children receiving tCBT (n = 35) demonstrated significant improvements in aspects of emotional regulation and psychopathology compared to waitlist controls (n = 34). These improvements were maintained at 10-weeks follow-up. These data suggest that CBT might be adapted to move beyond addressing anxiety-specific domains to concomitantly target multiple emotional problems in children with ASD.
Referring to
Weiss, J.A., Thomson, K., Riosa, P.B., Albaum, C., Chan, V., Maughan, A., Tablon, P. & Black, K. (2018), A randomized waitlist-controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy to improve emotion regulation in children with autism. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatr. 59: 1180-1191. doi: 10.111/jcpp.12915.
References
1McEvoy, P.M. et al. (2009), Efficacy of transdiagnostic treatments: A review of published outcome studies and future research directions. J. Cogn. Psychother. 22: 20-33. doi: 10.1891/0889-8391.23.1.20.
Glossary
Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy: the transdiagnostic paradigm is founded on the concept that many mental health disorders share common etiological and maintenance processes. When applied to cognitive behavioural therapy, patients are encouraged to manage their underlying emotional regulation, anxiety, mood and externalizing issues by changing the way they think and behave.