Journal Articles

In Press

Sauer-Zavala, S., Southward, M. W., Hood, C. O., Elhusseini, S., Fruhbauerova, M., Stumpp, N. E., & Semcho, S. A. (in press). Conceptual development and case data for a modular, personality-based treatment for borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, & Treatment. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Southward, M. W., Semcho, S. A., Stumpp, N. E., Hood, C. O., Garlock, A., & Urs, A. (in press). A SMART approach to personalized care: Preliminary data on how to select and sequence skills in transdiagnostic CBT. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. PDF

Stumpp, N.E., & Sauer-Zavala, S (in press). Evidence-based treatment personalization: A Review. Cognitive Behavioral Practice. PDF

2022

Curreri, A. J., Farchione, T. J., Sauer-Zavala, S. & Barlow, D. H. (2022). Mindful emotion awareness facilitates engagement with emotion exposures: An idiographic exploration using single-case experimental design. Behavior Modification, 46, 36-62. PDF

Elhusseini, S., Cravens, L., Southward M. W., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2022). Associations between improvements in aversive reactions to negative emotions and increased quality of life in the Unified Protocol. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 32(1), 25-32. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S. (2022) Measurement of HiTOP constructs as a means to improve treatment delivery. Assessment, 29(1), 93-98. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Southward, M. W., & Semcho, S. A. (2022). Integrating and differentiating personality and psychopathology in cognitive behavioral therapy. Journal of Personality, 90(1), 89-102. PDF

Southward, M. W., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2022). Dimensions of skill use in the Unified Protocol: Exploring unique effects on anxiety and depression. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 90(3), 246-257. PDF 

Links to the Dimensions of Skillfulness & Use Scale (DSUS) and Unified Protocol Skill Use Scale (UPSUS)

2021

Ametaj, A.A., Wilner, J.G., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Snow, R., Rassaby, M., Beer, K., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2021). A preliminary investigation of provider attitudes toward a transdiagnostic treatment: Outcomes from training workshops with the Unified Protocol. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 48, 668-682. LINK

Bentley, K. H., Cohen, Z. D., Kim, T., Bullis, J. R., Nauphal, M., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Sauer-Zavala, S., Sbi, S., Gallagher, M. W., Farchione, T. J., & Barlow, D. H. (2021). The nature, timing, and symptom trajectories of dropout from transdiagnostic and single-diagnosis cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders. Behavior Therapy, 52(6), 1364-1376. PDF

Cardona, N. D., Southward, M. W., Furbish, K., Comeau, A., Sauer-Zavala, S. (2021). Nomothetic and idiographic patterns of behavioral responses to emotions in borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, & Treatment, 12(4), 354–364. PDF

Hood, C. O., Southward, M. W., Bugher, C., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2021). A preliminary evaluation of the Unified Protocol among trauma-exposed adults with and without PTSD. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 18(21), 11729. PDF

Nauphal, M., Curreri, A. J., Cardona, N. D., Meyer, E. R., Southward, M. W., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2021). Measuring emotion regulation skill use during treatment: A promising methodological approach. Assessment.  PDF

Osma, J., Suso-Ribera, C., Peris-Baquero, O., Sauer-Zavala, S., & Barlow, D.H. (i2021). Predicting and moderating the response to the Unified Protocol: do baseline personality and affective profiles matter. Cognitive Therapy and Research. PDF

Preece, D., Becerra, R., Sauer-Zavala, S., Boyes, M., McEvoy, P., Villanueva, C.,Ibonie, S., Gruber, J., Hasking, P., & Gross, J. (2021). Assessing Emotion Regulation Ability for Negative and Positive Emotions: Psychometric Properties of the Perth Emotion Regulation Competency Inventory (PERCI) in United States Adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 294, 558-567. PDF

Preece, D., Becerra, R., Hasking, P., McEvoy, P., Boyes, M., Sauer-Zavala, S., Chen, W., & Gross, J. (2021). The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire: Psychometric properties and relations with affective symptoms in a United States general community sample. Journal of Affective Disorders. PDF

Rassaby, M., Cassiello-Robbins, C., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2021). When perfect isnever good enough: The predictive role of discrepancy on anxiety, time spent on academic tasks, and psychological wellbeing in university students. Personality and Individual Differences, 168. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Fournier, J., Jarvi Steele, S., Woods, B., Wang, M., Farchione, T., & Barlow, D. (2021). Does the unified protocol really change neuroticism? Results from a randomized trial. Psychological Medicine, 51(14), 2378-2387. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Rosellini, A.J., Bentley, K.H., Ametaj, A.A., Boswell, J.F., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Farchione, T.J., & Barlow, D.H. (2021). Skill acquisition as a mechanism of symptom change during transdiagnostic treatment with the Unified Protocol. Behavior Therapy, 52(6), 1325-1338. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Wilner, J.G., Eustis, E., Woods, B. K., Russell, K. (2021). Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Prevention of Emotional Disorders: Evaluation of a Brief, Online Course for College Freshmen. Behavior Therapy, 52(1), 64-76. PDF

Southward, M. W., Sauer-Zavala, S., Cheavens, J. S. (2021). Specifying the mechanisms and targets of emotion regulation: A translational framework from basic science research to psychological treatment. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 28(2), 168–182. PDF

Stumpp, N. E., Southward, M. W., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2021). Do you see what I see? Researcher-participant agreement on single-item measures of emotion regulation behaviors in borderline personality disorder. Assessment. Advance online publication. PDF

2020

Bentley, K.H., Sauer-Zavala, S., Stevens, K., Washburn, J. (2020). Implementing an evidence-based psychological intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors on an inpatient unit: Process, challenges, and initial findings. General Hospital Psychiatry, 63, 76-82. PDF

Cassiello-Robbins, C., Sauer-Zavala, S., Brody, L., & Barlow, D.H. (2020). Exploring the effects of the mindfulness and behavior change modules from the Unified Protocol on dysregulated anger in the context of emotional disorders. Behavior Therapy, 51(6), 933-944. PDF

Cassiello-Robbins, C., Southward, M., Tirpak, J., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2020). A systematic review of Unified Protocol applications with adult populations: Facilitating widespread dissemination via adaptability. Clinical Psychology Review, 78, 101852. PDF

Eustis, E.H., Cardona, N., Nauphal, M., Sauer-Zavala, S., Rosellini, A.J., Farchione, T.J., & Barlow, D.H. (2020). Changes in experiential avoidance across cognitive behavioral therapy in a sample of participants with heterogeneous anxiety disorders. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 44, 275-286. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Woods, B.K., Wilner Tirpak, J.W., Curerri, A.,  & Rassaby, M. (2020). Countering emotional behaviors in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 11(5), 328-338. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Bentley, K.H., Steele, S.J., Wilner Tirpak, J., Ametaj, A., Nauphal, M., Cardona, N., Wang, M., Farchione, T.J., & Barlow, D.H. (2020). The Unified Protocol for patients with depressive disorders: Results from a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 264, 438-445. PDF

Southward, M. W., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2020). Experimental manipulations to test theory-driven mechanisms of cognitive behavior therapy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, Article 603009. PDF

Southward, M. W., Semcho, S. A., Stumpp, N. E., MacLean, D. L., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2020). A day in the life of borderline personality disorder: A preliminary analysis of within-day emotion generation and regulation. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 42(4), 702-713. PDF

Wilner, J.G., Dufour, S., Kennedy, K., Sauer-Zavala, S., Boettcher, H., Farchione, T.J., & Barlow, D.H. (2020). Quality of life transdiagnostic treatments for anxiety disorders: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Modification, 44(3), 343-364. PDF

Woods, B.K., Sauer-Zavala, S., Farchione, T.J., & Barlow, D.H. (2020). The comparative effects of mindfulness training across anxiety disorder diagnoses in cognitive behavioral with and without a mindfulness component. Behavior Therapy, 51(6), 972-938. PDF

2019

Bullis, J.R., Boettcher, H., Sauer-Zavala, S., & Barlow, D.H. (2019). What is an emotional disorder? A transdiagnostic mechanistic definition and implications for assessment, treatment and prevention. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 26(2), 19-x PDF

Cassiello-Robbins, C., Wilner, J.G., Peters, J. R., Bentley, K.H., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2019). Elucidating relationships between anger, shame, and impulsive self-destructive behaviors. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 12, 7-12. PDF

Jeong Youn, S., Sauer-Zavala, S., Patrick, K., Ahles, E., Aguilar Silvan, A., Greig, A., Marques, L., & Shtasel, D. (2019). Barriers and facilitators to implementing a transdiagnostic treatment for homeless problems. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders, 207, 585-594. PDF

Osma, J., Quilez-Orden, A., Suso-Ribera, C., Peris-Baquero, O., Bentley, K.H., Norman, S., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2019). Psychometric properties and validation of the Spanish versions of the Overall Anxiety and Depression Severity and Impairment Scales. Journal of Affective Disorders, 252, 9-18. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Ametaj, A.A., Wilner, J.W., Bentley, K.H., Marquez, S., Patrick, K., Starks, B., Shtasel, D., & Marques, L. (2019). Evaluating transdiagnostic, evidence-based mental health care in a safety-net setting serving homeless individuals. Psychotherapy, 51(10), 100-114. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Ametaj, A.A., Wilner, J.W., & Pagan, D.S. (2019). Transdiagnostic Treatment Personalization: Prioritizing Unified Protocol treatment skills to capitalize on strengths or compensate for weaknesses. Behavior Modification, 43(4), 518-543. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Wilner, J.G., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Saraff, P., & Pagan, D.S. (2019). Opposite Action in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Laboratory-based Alternating Treatment Design. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 117, 76-86. PDF

Weihs, K., McConell, M., Wiley, J., Crespi, C., Sauer-Zavala, S., & Stanton, A. (2019). A Preventive Intervention to Modify Depression Risk Targets after Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Design and Single-Arm Pilot Study. Psycho-oncology, 28(4), 880-887. PDF

Wilner Tirpak, J., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Ametaj, A., Olesnycky, O.S., Sauer-Zavala, S., Farchione, T.J., Barlow, D.H. (2019). Changes in positive affect in cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders. General Hospital Psychiatry, 61, 111-115. PDF

2018

Bentley, K.H., Boettcher, H., Bullis, J.R., Carl, J.R., Conklin, L.R., Sauer-Zavala, S., Pierre-Louis, C., Farchione, T.J., & Barlow, D.H. (2018). Development of a single-session, transdiagnostic preventive intervention for young adults at risk for emotional disorders. Behavior Modification, 42(5), 781-805. PDF

Cassiello-Robbins, C., Sauer-Zavala, S., Wilner, J. G., Bentley, K. H., Conklin, L. R., Farchione, T. J., & Barlow, D. H. (2018). The effects of transdiagnostic versus single diagnosis protocols on anger during the treatment of anxiety disorders. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(7), 549-454. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Boswell, J.F., Bentley, K.H., Thompson-Hollands, J., Farchione, T.F., & Barlow, D.H. (2018). Expectancies, working alliance, and outcome in transdiagnostic and single diagnosis treatment for anxiety disorders: An investigation of mediation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 42, 135-145. PDF

Steele, S.J., Farchione, T.J., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Ametaj, A.A., Sbi, S., Sauer-Zavala, S., & Barlow, D.H. (2018). Efficacy of the Unified Protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of comorbid psychopathology accompanying emotional disorders compared to treatments targeting single disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 104, 211-216. PDF

Wilner, J.G., Russell, K., Sauer-Zavala, S. (2018). emotions101: Development of an online prevention course for college students based on the Unified Protocol. The Behavior Therapist, 41, 89-95. PDF

2017

Au, T.A., Sauer-Zavala, S., King, M., Petrocchi, N., Barlow, D.H., & Litz, B. (2017). Compassion-based therapy for trauma-related shame and posttraumatic stress: Initial evaluation using a multiple baseline design. Behavior Therapy, 48, 201-221. PDF

Barlow, D. H., Farchione, T. J., Bullis, J. R., Gallagher, M. W., Latin, H., Sauer-Zavala, S., …. Cassiello-Robbins, C. (2017).  The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders compared to diagnosis-specific protocols for anxiety disorders: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 74, 875-884. PDF

Bentley, K.H., Sauer-Zavala, S., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Conklin, L., Homer, D., & Vento, S.  (2017). Treating suicidal thoughts and behaviors within an emotional disorders framework: Acceptability and feasibility of the Unified Protocol in an inpatient setting. Behavior Modification, 41, 529-557. PDF

Bentley, K.H., Nock, M.K., Sauer-Zavala, S., Gorman, B.S., & Barlow, D.H. (2017). Examining the effects of two transdiagnostic emotion-focused interventions on non-suicidal self-injury using single-case experimental design. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85, 632-646. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Conklin, L., Bullis, J.R., Thompson-Hollands, J., & Kennedy, K. (2017). Isolating the unique effects of the Unified Protocol treatment modules using single-case experimental design. Behavior Modification, 40, 286-307. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Gutner, C., Farchione, T., Boettcher, H., Bullis, J.R., & Barlow, D.H. (2017). Current definitions of “transdiagnostic” in treatment development: A search for consensus. Behavior Therapy, 48, 128-138. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Wilner, J.G., & Barlow, D.H. (2017). Addressing neuroticism in psychological treatment. Personality Disorders: Theory, Treatment, & Research, 8, 191-198. PDF

2016

Brake, C.A., Sauer-Zavala, S., Boswell, J.F., Gallagher, M.W., Farchione, T., & Barlow, D.H. (2016). Mindfulness-based exposures strategies as a transdiagnostic mechanism of change: An exploratory alternating treatment design. Behavior Therapy, 47, 225-238. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Bentley, K.H., & Wilner, J.G. (2016). Transdiagnostic treatment of borderline personality disorder and comorbid disorders: A clinical replication series. Journal of Personality Disorders, 30, 35-51. PDF

Tully, P., Turnbull, D., Horowitz, J., Beltrame, J., Selkow, T., Baune, B., Marwick, E., Sauer-Zavala, S., Baumeister, H., Cosh, S., & Wittert, G., (2016). Cardiovascular health in anxiety and mood disorders study: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 17, 18. PDF

2015

Bentley, K.H., Cassiello-Robbins, C., Vittorio, L., Sauer-Zavala, S., & Barlow, D.H. (2015). The association between non-suicidal self-injury and emotional disorders: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 37, 72-88 PDF

Bentley, K. H., Wilner, J., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2015). The unique contributions of distinct experiential avoidance domains to severity and functionality of non-suicidal self-injury. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 6, 40-57. PDF

Bullis, J.R., Sauer-Zavala, S., Bentley, K.H., Thompson-Hollands, J., & Carl, J.R., & Barlow, D.H. (2015). The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders administered in a group format: A clinical replication series. Behavior Modification, 39, 295-321. PDF

Conklin, L., Cassiello, C., Brake, C., Sauer-Zavala, S., Farchione, T., Barlow, D.H., & Cirualo, D. (2015). Relationships between adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies and outcomes during the treatment of comorbid alcohol use and anxiety disorders. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 73, 124-130. PDF

DeShong, H.L., Lengel, G.J., Sauer-Zavala. S., O’Meara, M., & Mullins-Sweatt, S.N. (2015). Construct validity of the Five Factor Borderline Inventory. Assessment,  22, 319-331. PDF

Thompson-Brenner, H., Shingleton, R.M., Sauer-Zavala, S., Richards, L.K., & Pratt, E.M. (2015). Multiple measures of rapid response as predictors of remission in cognitive behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 64, 9-14. PDF

2014

Barlow, D.H., Ellard, K.K., Sauer-Zavala, S., Bullis, J.R., Carl, J.R. (2014). The origins of neuroticism. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9, 481-496. PDF

Barlow, D.H., Sauer-Zavala, S., Carl, J.R., Bullis, J.R. & Ellard, K.K. (2014). The nature, diagnosis, and treatment of neuroticism: Back to the Future? Clinical Psychological Science, 2, 344-365. PDF

Carl, J.R, Gallagher, M.W., Sauer-Zavala, S., Bentley, K., & Barlow, D.H. (2014). Changes in temperament during cognitive-behavioral therapy with the Unified Protocol and their effects on treatment outcomes. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 55, 1426-1434. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S. & Barlow, D.H. (2014). The case for borderline personality disorder as an emotional disorder: Implications for treatment. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 21, 118-138. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Burris, J.L., & Carlson, C.R. (2014). Understanding the relationships between religiousness, spirituality, and underage drinking: The role of positive alcohol expectancies. Journal of Religion and Health, 53, 68-78. PDF

Thompson-Hollands, Sauer-Zavala, S., & Barlow. CBT and the future of personalized treatment. (2014). Depression and Anxiety, 31, 909-911. PDF

2013

Boswell, J.F., Farchione, T.J., Sauer-Zavala, S., Murray, H., Fortune, M., & Barlow, D. H. (2013). Anxiety sensitivity and interoceptive exposure: A transdiagnostic construct and change strategy. Behavior Therapy, 44, 417-431. PDF

Boswell, J.F., Gallagher, M.W., Sauer-Zavala, S., Bullis, J.R., Gorman, J., Shear, K., Woods, S., & Barlow, D.H. (2013). Patient characteristics and variability in adherence and competence in cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81, 443-454. PDF

Gallagher, M.W., Sauer-Zavala, S., Boswell, J.F., Carl, J.R., Bullis, J., Farchione, T.J., Barlow, D.H. (2013). The impact of the Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders on quality of life. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 6, 57-72. PDF

Geiger, P.J., Peters, J.R., Sauer-Zavala, S., Baer, R.A. (2013). Relationships among maladaptive cognitive content, dysfunctional cognitive processes, and borderline personality disorder features. Journal of Personality Disorders, 27, 457-464. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Geiger, P.J., Baer, R.A. (2013). The effect of anger rumination in the relationship between borderline personality disorder symptoms and their precursors. Journal of Personality Disorders, 27, 465-472. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Walsh, E.C., Eisenlohr-Moul, T.A., Lykins, E. (2013). Comparing Mindfulness-based intervention strategies: Differential effects of sitting meditations, body scan and mindful yoga. Mindfulness, 4, 383-388. PDF

2012

Baer, R. A., Peters, J.R, Eisenlohr-Moul, T.A., Geiger, P.J., & Sauer-Zavala, S. (2012). Emotion-related cognitive processes in borderline personality disorder: A review of the empirical literature. Clinical Psychology Review. 32, 259-369. PDF

Boswell, J.F., Sauer-Zavala, S., Gallagher, M.W., Delgado, N., Barlow, D.H. (2012). Readiness to Change in a moderator of outcome in a transdiagnostic treatment. Psychotherapy Research, 22, 570-578. PDF

Mullins-Sweatt, S.N., Edmundson, M., Sauer-Zavala, S., Lynam, D.R., Miller, J.D., Widiger, T.A. (2012). Five factor measure of borderline personality disorder. Journal of Personality Assessment, 94, 475-487. PDF

Sauer, S. E. & Baer, R.A. (2012). Mindful and ruminative self-focused attention in borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 3, 433-441. PDF

Sauer-Zavala, S., Boswell, J.F., Gallagher, M.W., Bentley, K.H., Ametaj, A., Barlow, D.H. (2012). The role of negative affectivity and negative reactivity to emotions in predicting outcomes in the Unified Protocol. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 5,. 551-557. PDF

2011

Baer, R.A & Sauer, S.E.  (2011) Relationships between depressive rumination, anger rumination and borderline personality disorder features. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 2, 142-150. PDF

Burris, J.L., Sauer, S.E., & Carlson, C.R. (2011). A test of religious commitment and spiritual transcendence as independent predictors of underage alcohol abuse and alcohol-related problems. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3, 231-240. PDF

2010

Brechting, E., Salsman, J., Brown, T., Sauer, S.E., Holeman, V., Carlson, C. (2010). The role of religious beliefs and behaviors in predicting underage alcohol use. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 19, 324-334 PDF

Sauer, S.E., & Baer, R.A. (2010). Emotional vulnerability and invalidating environment: Validation of measures of the biosocial precursors to borderline personality disorder. Assessment, 17, 454-466. PDF

Sauer, S.E., Burris, J.L., & Carlson, C. (2010). New directions in the management of chronic pain: Self-regulation theory as a model of integrative practice. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 805-814. PDF

2009

Baer, R.A. & Sauer, S.E. (2009). Mindfulness and cognitive therapy: A commentary on Harrington and Pickles. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23, 324-332. PDF

Sauer, S.E. & Baer, R.A. (2009). Responding to negative internal experience: Relationships between acceptance and change-based approaches and psychological adjustment. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 31, 378. PDF

Sauer, S.E. & Baer, R.A. (2009). The role of thought suppression in the development of borderline personality disorder symptoms. Journal of Personality Disorders, 23, 46-59. PDF

2008

Baer, R.A., Smith, G., Lykins, E., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S.E., Walsh, E.C., Duggan, D., & Williams, M. (2008). Construct validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. Assessment, 15, 329-342. PDF