Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Transdiagnostic Integrated Therapy on Emotional Expressivity in Women With Social Anxiety Disorder

Objective: This study compared the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and the unified protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders on emotional expressivity in women diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Methods:This clinical trial employed a pre-test-post-test with a three-month follow-up design and one control group.The study population included women aged 20-40 years with a confirmed SAD diagnosis based on the structured clinical interview for (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition) DSM-5 and elevated social phobia inventory (SPIN) scores, recruited via convenience sampling from counseling clinics in Ahvaz City, Iran, in 2024.A total of 45 participants were randomly assigned to three groups (ACT, UP, or control), each with 15 participants.The ACT and UP groups received eight 90-minute weekly sessions, while the control group remained on a waiting list.Emotional expressivity was assessed using the emotional expressivity scale (EES).Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.Results: Both ACT and UP led to significant improvements in emotional expressivity and its subscales (positive, intimacy, and negative expressivity) compared to the control group, with gains sustained at follow-up.Notably, both interventions were equally effective in enhancing emotional expressivity.These findings highlight the clinical utility of ACT and UP in improving social functioning for women with SAD. Conclusion:ACT and UP are equally effective in fostering lasting improvements in emotional expressivity, offering valuable therapeutic options for SAD.