Culturally Adapted Therapy Shows Promise for Anxiety and Depression in Pakistan

A pilot clinical trial conducted in Pakistan has found encouraging results for a culturally adapted psychological treatment aimed at people experiencing anxiety and depressive disorders. The study examined the Urdu Adapted Unified Protocol (UA-UP), a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy approach designed to address common emotional and psychological processes shared by different mental health conditions.

The research involved 51 adults who met diagnostic criteria for anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Participants were randomly assigned either to a 14-week UA-UP treatment programme or to a waitlist control group. The researchers assessed not only clinical outcomes but also whether the treatment could be delivered successfully and whether participants found it acceptable and manageable.

The findings showed strong engagement with the intervention. Recruitment reached 85.7%, while 82.4% of participants completed the study. Among those receiving treatment, 23 of 25 participants completed the 14-week programme. Homework adherence was also high, with participants completing most of the assigned activities. Satisfaction scores indicated that participants generally viewed the treatment positively.

The treatment group also recorded greater reductions in anxiety, depression and functional difficulties than the waitlist group. Participants reported that the programme helped them understand their emotions, develop coping strategies and respond more effectively to difficult emotional experiences.

An important feature of the intervention was its cultural and linguistic adaptation. Psychological terminology was simplified for Urdu-speaking participants, while examples, visual materials and activities were modified to make the therapy more relevant to the local setting.

The researchers said the findings provide preliminary support for conducting a larger, fully powered randomised controlled trial. Such research could further assess whether the adapted approach can be effectively expanded within resource-constrained mental-health settings.

21-09-2026