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

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 (PA-NAS), 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).