Recruiting

Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy for Young People With Anxiety and Depression

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06384196

PhaseNA

Enrollment138

SponsorUniversity of Barcelona

Age16 Years

SexALL

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Conditions studied

Depression, Anxiety

About this study

Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental disorders among both the general population and young adults, and transdiagnostic treatments for these patients are mostly based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Based on common (transdiagnostic) principles of treatment (e.g., emotional exposure), these approaches have proliferated and demonstrated their efficacy in comparison to disorder-specific treatments. Although there are a few transdiagnostic approaches for children and adolescents, it was not possible to not find anyone targeting young people. For this reason, the investigators proposed the Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT) as a new treatment modality ideally created to address the challenge of improving the outcomes of psychotherapy for young adults with anxiety and/or depression. The IBTT is a psychological treatment for emotional disorders specifically designed for the youths in terms of their attitudes to treatment (attractiveness, engagement), and highly personalized to their construal of self and others. This project will allow testing the hypothesis that a novel brief psychotherapeutic intervention, IBTT, will be more efficacious in the treatment of the anxiety and/or depression of young adults than the well-established CBT-based Unified Protocol.

Interventions

Behavioral: Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT) — In this study, IBTT is applied in 16, one-hour weekly sessions based on contemporary constructivist psychotherapy enhanced with the technological platform EYME-Explore Your Meanings to enable the immersive exploration of the patient's self-identity. Although it could be applied to other populations, IBTT has been designed to improve the mental health of late adolescents and young people.
Behavioral: Unified Protocol — In this study, the UP is applied in 16, one-hour weekly sessions based on contemporary cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Primary outcomes

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) (DASS-21 will be administered at baseline, at 16 weeks (at completion), and at three-month follow-up.)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: • Participants with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety as their primary complaint. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with post-traumatic stress, bipolar and substance use disorders, psychotic symptoms, organic brain dysfunction, marked suicidal ideation and/or intellectual disability. * Participants receiving psychological treatment, unless it is suspended at the time of inclusion in the study itself in agreement with their therapist. * Participants for whom the use of virtual reality may pose a risk, even a minor risk (epilepsia, acute otorhinolaryngological processes or recent interventions, severe cardiovascular disease, unstable hypertension, and pregnancy). * Participants with substantial visual, hearing, and cognitive deficits. * Participants who do not have enough competence to communicate in Spanish or Catalan.

Study locations

Badalona Serveis Assistencials, Badalona, 08911 Spain
Associació Centre Higiene Mental Nou Barris, Barcelona, 08042 Spain

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.