Abstract

Transdiagnostic mental health research encompasses a number of related but also separable endeavours, including efforts to develop and validate alternative nosological systems to the traditional diagnostic approach, efforts to identify and elucidate transdiagnostic biopsychosocial processes at various levels of analysis (genetic, molecular, neural, behavioural); and finally efforts to develop transdiagnostic clinical interventions. The field is at a critical juncture in terms of advancing our understanding of mental health problems and using this knowledge to improve interventions.

This talk will introduce some of these ideas, briefly summarise research to date, and highlight some of the key questions and recommendations required to move forward in this field. In particular, the rationale for novel transdiagnostic psychological interventions will be presented, focusing on the development of a modular psychological treatment for mood, anxiety and stressor-related disorders. The Healthy and Resilient Mind Programme: Building Blocks for Mental Wellbeing (HARMONIC) trial introduces a novel transdiagnostic intervention (Shaping Healthy Minds (SHM)), which synthesises several evidence-based treatment techniques to address the gap in effective interventions for people with complex and comorbid difficulties.