Efficacy and feasibility of an adapted version of the unified protocol on relieving depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents
Start Date
21-2-2025 4:20 PM
End Date
21-2-2025 4:40 PM
Description
Depression and anxiety symptoms are increasingly common among adolescents, prompting a focus on effective treatments. The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) has shown mixed results. Researchers suggested that the brief mindfulness component in the original UP-A might limit its effectiveness. To enhance the UP-A, this study integrated extended mindfulness practices. Additionally, based on the ecological system theory, we added social support practices, aiming to enhance the adolescents' ability of utilize resources in their environments to overcome life difficult circumstances. We recruited 53 adolescents with high depression and/or anxiety symptoms, randomly assigning them to an adapted UP-A group (n = 28) or a waitlist control group (n = 25). Participants were assessed on depression, anxiety, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and social support before, after, and one month following the intervention. The intervention group received an eight-week program (once a week), and the waitlist group received no intervention.
Results showed significant time and group interaction effects on depression, mindfulness, and distress tolerance, but not on anxiety and social support. The intervention group had significantly lower depression levels post- intervention, but not at follow-up. For the waitlist control group, the differences of depression among pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up were not significant. Mindfulness levels increased post-intervention but did not change at follow-up. For the waitlist control group, levels of mindfulness did not change significantly at post-intervention compared with pre-intervention. It decreased from post-intervention to follow-up significantly. Compared to pre-intervention, distress tolerance did not significantly differ during post-intervention and follow-up among the intervention group. However, it decreased from pre-intervention to post-intervention in the waitlist group while increased from post-intervention to follow-up.
The study concludes that the adapted UP-A effectively reduces depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents and has moderate feasibility. This research supports the efficacy of the UP-A in China and adds to intervention strategies for adolescent depression.
Speaker
Prof ZOU Yingmin
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, China
My research interests focus on emotional deficits in individuals with psychological disorders or subclinical symptoms and the efficacy and mechanisms of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for major depressive disorders and high stress. I use various research methods, including self-report questionnaires, clinical assessments, behavioral tasks, and neuroimaging.
I have conducted studies on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of anhedonia and amotivation in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder (MOD). I developed and tested a cognitive therapy based on psychological pain theory for individuals with suicidal ideation and MOD and explored the psychological mechanisms of mindfulness intervention.
My work has been published in journals such as Schizophrenia Research, Psychiatry Research, and the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, with an H-index of 12. My research enhances understanding of emotional and motivational deficits in psychological disorders and provides evidence-based intervention strategies. I have played a significant role in several national and Guangdong province research foundations in China.
Co-author(s)
Bin ZHANG
Document Type
Keynote speech
Recommended Citation
Zou, Y. (2025, February 21). Efficacy and feasibility of an adapted version of the unified protocol on relieving depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Presentation presented at the International Conference and Workshop on Health and Well-being in the Digital Era. Lingnan University, Hong Kong.
Efficacy and feasibility of an adapted version of the unified protocol on relieving depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents
Depression and anxiety symptoms are increasingly common among adolescents, prompting a focus on effective treatments. The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) has shown mixed results. Researchers suggested that the brief mindfulness component in the original UP-A might limit its effectiveness. To enhance the UP-A, this study integrated extended mindfulness practices. Additionally, based on the ecological system theory, we added social support practices, aiming to enhance the adolescents' ability of utilize resources in their environments to overcome life difficult circumstances. We recruited 53 adolescents with high depression and/or anxiety symptoms, randomly assigning them to an adapted UP-A group (n = 28) or a waitlist control group (n = 25). Participants were assessed on depression, anxiety, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and social support before, after, and one month following the intervention. The intervention group received an eight-week program (once a week), and the waitlist group received no intervention.
Results showed significant time and group interaction effects on depression, mindfulness, and distress tolerance, but not on anxiety and social support. The intervention group had significantly lower depression levels post- intervention, but not at follow-up. For the waitlist control group, the differences of depression among pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up were not significant. Mindfulness levels increased post-intervention but did not change at follow-up. For the waitlist control group, levels of mindfulness did not change significantly at post-intervention compared with pre-intervention. It decreased from post-intervention to follow-up significantly. Compared to pre-intervention, distress tolerance did not significantly differ during post-intervention and follow-up among the intervention group. However, it decreased from pre-intervention to post-intervention in the waitlist group while increased from post-intervention to follow-up.
The study concludes that the adapted UP-A effectively reduces depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents and has moderate feasibility. This research supports the efficacy of the UP-A in China and adds to intervention strategies for adolescent depression.