Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT) for young people with anxiety and depression: A study protocol for a multicenter randomized clinical trial
Abstract
Background: Youth mental health is a pressing global concern, with depression and anxiety being prevalent disorders. The unique challenges of adolescents and youth are underrepresented in psychotherapy research, and existing transdiagnostic treatments target symptom mechanisms rather than identity processes. In response, we propose a novel treatment modality: Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT). This approach utilizes the repertory grid technique with Explore Your Meanings (EYME), a digital tool incorporating an automated interview to elicit the person’s construal about self and others, and a virtual reality (VR) scenario to explore their identity system. Methods: With a two-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trial (RCT) with a three-month follow-up, we will examine the efficacy of IBTT compared to the Unified Protocol (a validated CBT treatment). To ensure enough statistical power, we target a sample of 128 participants aged 16-29 years to be randomly allocated (ratio 1:1) to receive a maximum of 16 sessions of either intervention. The primary outcome will be the between-group difference in symptom change from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, as measured by the total score of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Discussion: Evidence supporting the efficacy of this innovative approach would likely have a substantial impact on clinical practice for young adults and enhance engagement throughout the psychotherapy process.
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BibTeX
@misc{feixas2026identitybased,
title = {{Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT) for young people with anxiety and depression: A study protocol for a multicenter randomized clinical trial}},
author = {Guillem Feixas and Giuseppina Rametti and Irene Álvarez Tomás and Sergi Corbella and Danielle Mullins and Clara Paz and Sonia Lorente and Miquel Alabernia Segura},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/p48d7_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/p48d7_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT) for young people with anxiety and depression: A study protocol for a multicenter randomized clinical trial
AU - Guillem Feixas
AU - Giuseppina Rametti
AU - Irene Álvarez Tomás
AU - Sergi Corbella
AU - Danielle Mullins
AU - Clara Paz
AU - Sonia Lorente
AU - Miquel Alabernia Segura
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/09
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/p48d7_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/p48d7_v1/
AB - Background: Youth mental health is a pressing global concern, with depression and anxiety being prevalent disorders. The unique challenges of adolescents and youth are underrepresented in psychotherapy research, and existing transdiagnostic treatments target symptom mechanisms rather than identity processes. In response, we propose a novel treatment modality: Identity-Based Transdiagnostic Therapy (IBTT). This approach utilizes the repertory grid technique with Explore Your Meanings (EYME), a digital tool incorporating an automated interview to elicit the person’s construal about self and others, and a virtual reality (VR) scenario to explore their identity system. Methods: With a two-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trial (RCT) with a three-month follow-up, we will examine the efficacy of IBTT compared to the Unified Protocol (a validated CBT treatment). To ensure enough statistical power, we target a sample of 128 participants aged 16-29 years to be randomly allocated (ratio 1:1) to receive a maximum of 16 sessions of either intervention. The primary outcome will be the between-group difference in symptom change from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, as measured by the total score of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Discussion: Evidence supporting the efficacy of this innovative approach would likely have a substantial impact on clinical practice for young adults and enhance engagement throughout the psychotherapy process.
ER -