Transdiagnostic therapeutic approaches: A global perspective

Although there have been significant gains in understanding the effectiveness of mental health treatments and potential delivery methods to increase sustainability and build capacity (e.g., task sharing), there continues to be barriers in providing and scaling up mental health services in LMIC. This chapter will focus on the relatively new transdiagnostic approach in LMIC that may help to further bridge the mental health treatment gap. We begin by defining transdiagnostic approaches, walk through the historical theory and rationale, and discuss its potential utilization and benefits in LMIC. We then review the current evidence for transdiagnostic treatments, pulling from both HIC and LMIC. Collectively, current literature crossing high- and low-income settings support the further development and investigation of transdiagnostic approaches that utilize lay community workers as viable treatment options that could help address implementation and sustainability barriers.