The Effectiveness of Transdiagnostic Treatment on Maladaptive Personality Traits and Mentalized Affectivity of Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Comorbid with Depression (a Case Study)

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of transdiagnostic treatment on maladaptive personality traits and Mentalized Affectivity of patients with generalized anxiety disorder comorbid with depression. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a single case method was used to conduct the research.The statistical population included people with GAD comorbid with depression who were referred to counseling centers in Isfahan in 2020, from whom 5 people were selected by purposive sampling and they intervened transdiagnostic treatment through individual and weekly sessions.. Subjects were assessed at baseline, 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 10th sessions, and during a one-month follow-up period using the short version of the adult version of the DSM-5 Personality Questionnaire (PID-5-BF) (Krueger et al, 2012), and Mentalized Affectivity Scale (MAS) (Greenberg et al, 2017). To report the data, visual analysis, Reliable Change Index (RCI), improvement percentage, and statistical and clinical significance were used. Results: Visual drawing, percentage of improvement, and Reliable change index (RCI) (RCI≥1 / 96), showed that transdiagnostic treatment caused statistically significant changes and improvement in Mentalized affectivity components, negative affectivity, and detachment, but not had a significant effect on other personality traits. (Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Psychoticism). Conclusion: Transdiagnostic treatment is an effective treatment to modulate the Mentalized Affectivity, negative affectivity, and detachment of people with generalized anxiety disorder comorbid with depression.