Abstract

MARTINEZ-BORBA, Verónica et al. Prevention of emotional disorders and symptoms under health conditions: a pilot study using the Unified Protocol in a fertility unit. Anal. Psicol. [online]. 2022, vol.38, n.1, pp.25-35.  Epub June 13, 2022. ISSN 1695-2294.  https://dx.doi.org/10.6018/analesps.462331.

Emotional Disorders (EDs) are common in women who undergo fertility treatments. The Unified Protocol (UP) is a transdiagnostic intervention that has demonstrated efficacy in preventing EDs under different health conditions. The aim of this pilot study is to: 1) improve emotional dysregulation for the prevention of anxiety and depressive symptoms in women undergoing intrauterine inseminations (IUI); 2) assess their acceptability (e.g., satisfaction and adherence rates). Method: Five women undergoing IUI, with no clinical diagnoses, responded to measures of mood (anxiety and depression), affect, quality of life and emotional dysregulation in the pre- and post-assessments, and at the 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The UP was adapted to be applied during six face-to-face group sessions lasting 2 h. The COVID-19 pandemic situation implied changing to an online format to end the program. Results: The results showed that women did not develop EDs, and no statistically significant pre-post and pre-follow-up differences were found for anxiety, depression, quality of life and emotional dysregulation (all p > .050). A tendency towards improvement in the post-assessment evaluation was noted. Satisfaction with the format and UP program was high. Conclusions: It would seem that programs focusing on therapeutic common factors like the UP could have an emotional preventive effect during IUI.

Keywords : Unified Protocol; Assisted Reproduction Techniques; Group format; e-health; Emotional Disorders; Emotion Regulation; Health Prevention.

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