Transdiagnostic therapy compared to progressive muscle relaxation on the emotional health of mothers with premature infants: A randomized controlled trial.

This study compared the effects of transdiagnostic therapy, a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting emotional regulation, with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on emotion regulation strategies, self-compassion, maternal role adaptation, and social and work adjustment in mothers of premature infants hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). In a randomized controlled trial involving 27 mothers, those receiving eight sessions of transdiagnostic therapy showed significantly greater improvements across all measured outcomes at post-test and two-month follow-up compared to the PMR group. The findings suggest that transdiagnostic therapy may be more effective than PMR in enhancing emotional health and functional adaptation in this population. The study highlights the potential utility of transdiagnostic therapy as a psychological intervention for mothers coping with the stress of premature infant hospitalization.