Psychotherapy research shows that problems in emotion regulation are at the core of many different psychiatric disorders. Greenberg and colleagues distinguish between two categories of emotion regulation problems: emotional under- and overregulation. Whereas the first category is associated with diminished impulse control, the second is constituted of difficulties in perceiving and expressing emotions.

Is it possible to validate the clinical concept of emotional underregulation and overregulation?

Patients of a psychotherapy day clinic attended a specific group therapy program aimed at improving emotion regulation. The program included interventions to control impulses as well as interventions focussing on a more appropriate perception and expression of emotions.

The evaluation of the program was based on pre-post comparisons of standard questionnaires and on repeated assessments of therapy processes using session reports.

Results of about 50 patients attending the group therapy program will be presented. Different clusters depending on a patient's position on the two emotion regulation dimensions were found. Each cluster represented a unique pattern of emotion regulation.

It was possible to validate the clinical construct of emotional underregulation and overregulation. The results contribute to a transdiagnostic approach to emotion regulation.