Unified Protocol in Penitentiary Facilities

Launched by INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIÓN SANITARIA ARAGÓN · Jul 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is testing a new group treatment called the Unified Protocol (UP) to help people in prison who are struggling with emotional disorders like anxiety, depression, and mood problems. These conditions are common among inmates, but prisons often don’t have enough resources to provide good mental health care. The UP uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and has been shown to help with different emotional issues in various settings. This study wants to see if offering the UP in group sessions is a practical and effective way to support inmates’ mental health while making the best use of limited resources.

People who might join this study are inmates diagnosed with at least one emotional disorder, able to understand Spanish or Catalan, have been free from substance use for at least a month, and can commit to attending all sessions and assessments. Participants will take part in 12 weekly group sessions, each about an hour long, with about six to eight people per group. After the sessions, their progress will be checked at one, three, and six months to see how well the treatment worked and if improvements last over time. The study also wants to find out how satisfied participants and therapists are with the program and identify any challenges in using it in prison settings. This pilot study will help decide if this group treatment could be a good option for more inmates in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • At least one emotional disorder diagnosis (e.g., anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma-related, somatic, dissociative) based on the MINI interview
• • Comprehension of the intervention language (Spanish or Catalan)
• • Substance abstinence for more than 1 month
• • Voluntary participation and availability for all assessment and treatment sessions
• • Stable pharmacological treatment during the study unless medically contraindicated
• • Signed informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • No emotional disorder diagnosis
• • Cognitive impairment or IQ \<70 preventing comprehension
• • Diagnosis of a mental disorder incompatible with group formats (e.g., histrionic personality disorder)
• • Suicide risk at assessment
• • Legal status involving potential release or leave that could affect adherence