Subclinical symptoms of anxiety and/or depression may negatively impact individuals’ lives, as they impair daily functioning and increase the risk of developing emotional disorders (e.g., depressive and anxiety disorders, and others related). Accordingly, preventive interventions targeting individuals with subclinical symptoms are essential. Among these, transdiagnostic approaches have proven to be particularly suitable, especially the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). The UP has recently been adapted for preventive contexts and has shown encouraging results, including significant reductions in negative affect. Despite these promising findings, existing adaptations are not specifically tailored to adults who present with subclinical symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Thus, this study describes the implementation of a brief preventive version of the UP (UP-Prevent), which was delivered in a face-to-face group format across six two-hour sessions to three women with subclinical symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Assessments were conducted at three time points (preprogram, postprogram, and three-month follow-up) and included measures of depressive and anxiety symptom severity, symptom-related impairment, emotion regulation difficulties, perceived functional impairment across domains (e.g., work, social activities, private leisure activities, interpersonal relationships), quality of life, positive emotions, and positive mental health. To evaluate changes, the reliable change index (RCI) was computed. Significant improvements were observed across participants in several variables, including anxiety symptoms and anxiety-related impairment, emotion regulation difficulties, and positive mental health. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program, underscoring its acceptability and feasibility and highlighting the UP-Prevent as a promising intervention for individuals with subclinical symptoms.
Francisco et al. (2026) studied this question.