E-ISSN : 2733-4538
This study examined the effects of Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT; Mennin & Fresco, 2009) in individuals with co-occurring generalized anxiety and depression symptoms. ERT is designed to treat emotion regulation difficulties as commonly seen in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) by sequentially focusing on motivation, regulation, and contextual learning mechanisms. We used a group version of ERT that consisted of 9 sessions with three stages: emotional and motivational awareness training, emotional regulation skills training, and experiential exposure. A total of 33 undergraduates with co-occurring symptoms of GAD and MDD were assigned to either the ERT or control group. Selfreport questionnaires for outcome variables (worry, general distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms) and program-related process variables (awareness and emotional regulation strategies) were assessed at pre-, post- and 4-week-after treatment. Results showed that the ERT group, as compared to the control group, showed a significant symptom reduction in all outcome variables, and this effect was maintained at the follow-up period. Moreover, the ERT group showed significant changes in the process variables that were maintained until the follow-up, when compared with the control group. These results suggest that an intervention that systematically addresses emotion dysregulation may be effective for those with comorbid anxiety and depression. Based on these findings, implications and limitations of this study are discussed.
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