Aim: The aim of the TRAbee study was to compare the effectiveness of two transdiagnostic treatment modalities, Unified Protocol (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) and Affect Phobia Therapy (Psychodynamic Psychotherapy), in alleviating psychological distress and to examine the relative differences in the incidence of negative effects as assessed by the Negative Effects Questionnaire.

Methods: This study is a randomized controlled trial with 2,400 participants divided into 12 subgroups based on treatment modality (CBT vs. PDT vs. waitlist), duration (8 or 16 weeks of treatment), and discussion forum access (yes/no). Participants were randomly assigned and measured weekly during treatment, and then at 6, 12, and 24 months. Inclusion criteria were: age 18 years or older, ability to read/write Swedish, access to a smartphone/computer, GAD-7 score ≥5, and/or PHQ-9 score ≥10. Exclusion criteria included: current psychological treatment, recent medication change, severe depression/suicidality. Outcome measures included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale (PHQ-9), the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire 8-item scale (RFQ- 8), the Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ), and the Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life scale (BBQ).

Results: Follow-up data is still being collected, but preliminary results, including 12-month follow-up, will be available at the ISRII conference. The results will report on the relative differences in the incidence of negative effects between the treatments as assessed by the NEQ scale.

Conclusions: The study will provide insights into the comparative effectiveness of Unified Protocol and Affect Phobia Therapy in addressing psychological disorders in a transdiagnostic manner, as well as shedding light on the differences in negative effects experienced by patients undergoing these treatments. This information may inform future treatment approaches and help to optimize patient outcomes.