Razavi Journal of Medicine

Razavi Journal of Medicine

The Effectiveness of Unified Transdiagnostic Therapy on Experiential Avoidance, Cognitive Fusion, and Self-Conscious Emotions in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Farzin Bagheri Sheykhangafshe 1
Bita Ghafari Tavasoli 2
Seyyedeh Somayyeh Baradaran 3
Vahid Savabi Niri 3
Jafar Hasani 4
1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch, Ardabil, Iran.
4 Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
10.30483/rjm.2026.254722.1486
Abstract
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and maladaptive emotional responses that significantly impair daily functioning.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Unified Transdiagnostic Therapy (UTT) in reducing experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, and self-conscious emotions in patients diagnosed with OCD.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control group was employed. The statistical population comprised 65 patients referred to psychological clinics and medical centers in Ardabil City in 2024. From this population, 36 patients diagnosed with OCD were selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental (n = 18) or control (n = 18) group. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of UTT. Data were collected using the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Questionnaire (OCDQ), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), and the Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA-3). Statistical analyses were conducted using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS version 27.

Results: The findings demonstrated that UTT significantly reduces experiential avoidance (F = 86.36, η² = 0.74), cognitive fusion (F = 81.91, η² = 0.73), shame (F = 65.92, η² = 0.68), and guilt (F = 76.21, η² = 0.72) in patients with OCD (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: This study underscores the efficacy of UTT as a transdiagnostic intervention for ameliorating the maladaptive cognitive and emotional processes prevalent in OCD. By fostering enhanced psychological flexibility and emotional regulation, UTT constitutes a viable and practical therapeutic option. These findings support the broader application of transdiagnostic approaches in targeting the fundamental mechanisms underpinning a range of emotional disorders.
Keywords
Unified Transdiagnostic Therapy
Experiential Avoidance
Cognitive Fusion
Self-Conscious Emotions
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank all participants who took part in this study and the staff at psychological clinics and medical centers in Ardabil City for their support and assistance with data collection.

Availability of data and materials: All data generated or analyzed during this study are fully presented within this published article

Conflicts of interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Consent for publication: Not applicable.

Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Kharazmi University (IR.KHU.REC.1404.104), and all participants provided written informed consent prior to participation.

Financial disclosure: The authors declare that this research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author contributions: All authors contributed to the study conception and design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. They were involved in drafting and revising the manuscript and have approved the final version for publication

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Razavi Journal of Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 May 2026