Transdiagnostic Model of Anxiety and Depression According to the Relationship with Affect, Intolerance of Uncertainly, and Anxiety Sensitivity

Abstract The transdiagnostic model allows explaining and developing treatments based on the etiology and maintenance factors of comorbid psychopathologies; however, the relationships between its explanatory variables still require investigation. The purpose of this paper was to develop a structural model that includes these transdiagnostic variables: positive and negative affect, intolerance to uncertainty and anxiety sensitivity, in emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. Quantitative research was carried out with an explanatory cross-sectional design in which a structural network of relationships between constructs was defined using a diagram of paths and structural equations. 486 Colombians between the ages of 20 and 40 were intentionally randomly sampled. The following instruments were used to assess the fitting of the model: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory, second edition, Spanish version (BDI-II). The results showed significant correlations between transdiagnostic and symptomatic variables (depression and anxiety symptoms), using an adjusted model that explained the predictive capacity of anxiety sensitivity with anxiety symptoms, and intolerance of uncertainty with depression symptoms, both transdiagnostic variables associated with positive and negative affect as predictors of anxious and depressive emotional symptoms ( R 2 = .74). Keywords Transdiagnostic, anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainly, affect, anxiety, depression. Resumen El modelo transdiagnostico permite explicar y desarrollar tratamientos basados en la etiologia y factores mantenedores de las psicopatologias comorbidas, no obstante, las relaciones entre sus variables explicativas aun requieren investigacion. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue desarrollar un modelo estructural que incluye las variables transdiagnosticas: afecto positivo y negativo, intolerancia a la incertidumbre y sensibilidad a la ansiedad, en problemas emocionales como ansiedad y depresion. Se llevo a cabo una investigacion cuantitativa con un diseno transversal explicativo en el cual se definio una red estructural de relaciones entre constructos mediante un diagrama de senderos y ecuaciones estructurales. Se conformo una muestra no probabilistica intencional de 486 colombianos entre 20 y 40 anos. Para evaluar el ajuste del modelo se utilizaron los siguientes instrumentos: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Intolerance Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) y Beck Depression Inventory, second edition, Spanish version (BDI-II). Los resultados indicaron correlaciones significativas entre las variables transdiagnosticas y las sintomaticas (sintomas de depresion y ansiedad), mediante un modelo ajustado que permitio explicar la capacidad predictiva de la sensibilidad a la ansiedad con los sintomas de ansiedad, y la intolerancia a la incertidumbre con los sintomas de depresion, ambas variables transdiagnosticas asociadas al afecto positivo y negativo como predictores de los sintomas emocionales ansiosos y depresivos ( R 2 = .74).