Clinical characteristics of patients assessed within an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service: results from a naturalistic cohort study (Predicting Outcome Following Psychological Therapy; PROMPT)

Pharmacotherapy for sleep disturbances in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances are an important symptom dimension of post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD). There is no meta-analytic evidence examining the effects of all types of pharmacotherapy on sleep outcomes among patients with PTSD.

METHODS

Medline/Embase/PsychInfo/CENTRAL/clinicaltrials.gov/ICTRP, reference lists of published reviews and all included studies were searched for Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) examining any pharmacotherapy vs. placebo or any other drug among patients with PTSD.

PRIMARY OUTCOMES

total sleep time, nightmares, sleep quality.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

sleep onset latency, number of nocturnal awakenings, time spent awake following sleep onset, dropouts due to sleep-related adverse-effects, insomnia/somnolence/vivid-dreams as adverse-effects. Pairwise and network meta-analyses were performed.

RESULTS

99 RCTs with 10,481 participants were included. Prazosin may be the most effective treatment for insomnia (SMD = -0.88, 95%CI = [-1.22;-0.54], nightmares (SMD = -0.44, 95%CI = [-0.84;-0.04]) and poor sleep quality (SMD = -0.55, 95%CI = [-1.01;-0.10]). Evidence is scarce and indicates lack of efficacy for SSRIs, Mirtazapine, z-drugs and benzodiazepines, which are widely used in daily practice. Risperidone and Quetiapine carry a high risk of causing somnolence without having a clear therapeutic benefit. Hydroxyzine, Trazodone, Nabilone, Paroxetine and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy may be promising options, but more research is needed.

CONCLUSIONS

Underpowered individual comparisons and very-low to moderate confidence in effect estimates hinder the generalisability of the results. More RCTs, specifically reporting on sleep-related outcomes, are urgently needed.

Exploring access and engagement with Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown: A service evaluation in the Northwest of England

The purpose of this study was to compare clients' prevalence and explore the characteristics that predicted access and engagement with IAPT treatment before, during, and after Lockdown.

We conducted a retrospective observational service evaluation, using routinely collected IAPT data from n = 13,019 clients who entered treatment between March and September in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression were used to explore associations and potential predictors of access and engagement with IAPT treatment.

The number of people accessing and engaging with IAPT treatment was significantly higher after lockdown compared to before. Unemployed clients were less likely to access treatment during and after lockdown. Yet, perinatal clients and people from a black ethnic background were more likely to access treatment during lockdown. Being young and being unemployed were predictors of treatment disengagement across all three time points, whereas perinatal clients were less likely to engage only before and during lockdown. Clients who were not prescribed medication and clients with a long-term condition were more likely to engage during lockdown.

The demonstrated changes in access and engagement with IAPT treatment after the introduction of remote therapy urges the services to further consider the individual needs of specific client groups.

Clinical presentation of psychotic experiences in patients with common mental disorders attending the UK primary care improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) Programme

BACKGROUND

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services address anxiety and depression in primary care, with psychotic disorders typically excluded. Our previous research found 1 in 4 patients report distressing psychotic experiences (PE) alongside common mental disorders, yet little is known about their clinical presentation and impact on recovery.

METHODS

We used the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences - Positive Scale (CAPE-P15) to assess the clinical presentation and symptomatic profile of PE within IAPT settings across three National Health Service (NHS) trusts, serving a diverse population in Southern England. We identified different classes based on the reported PE frequencies using latent class analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 2042 IAPT patients completed the CAPE-P15. The mean age was 39.8 (±15.3) years. We identified five distinct classes of symptom profiles, findings that PE were common, especially self-referential and persecutory ideas. Prevalence and intensity increased across classes, extending to bizarre experiences and perceptual abnormalities in the fifth and least common class. Perceptual abnormalities were a strong indicator of symptom severity, with patients being the least likely to achieve recovery by the end of treatment.

LIMITATIONS

Data were collected during a service evaluation. Replication of these findings across other IAPT services could prove beneficial. We did not collect information on negative PE.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients seeking treatment for anxiety and depression in primary care commonly experience a wide range of positive PE. Self-referential and persecutory ideation were prevalent; perceptual abnormalities were infrequent. Providing information about prevalence and tailoring therapy may help reduce patient distress.

Non-randomised feasibility study of training workshops for Talking Therapies service high-intensity therapists to optimise depression and anxiety outcomes for individuals with co-morbid personality difficulties: a study protocol

BACKGROUND

The NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression programme ('TTad'; formerly Improving Access to Psychological Therapies 'IAPT') delivers high-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to over 200,000 individuals each year for common mental health problems like depression and anxiety. More than half of these individuals experience comorbid personality difficulties, who show poorer treatment outcomes. TTad therapists report feeling unskilled to work with clients with personality difficulties, and enhancing the training of TTad therapists may lead to improved treatment outcomes for individuals presenting with secondary personality difficulties alongside depression and anxiety.

METHODS

This is a pre-post non-randomised mixed-method feasibility study, exploring the feasibility and acceptability of a 1-day training workshop for high-intensity (HI) CBT therapists. The workshop is focused on understanding and assessing personality difficulties and adapting HICBT treatments for anxiety and depression to accommodate client needs. The feasibility and acceptability of the workshop and the evaluation procedures will be investigated. It will be examined to what extent the workshop provision leads to improvements in therapist skills and confidence and explored to what extent the training has the potential to enhance clinical outcomes for this client group.

DISCUSSION

This feasibility study will provide data on the acceptability and feasibility of delivering brief therapist training to adapt usual HICBT to optimise care for individuals with secondary personality difficulties seeking treatment in TTad services for a primary problem of depression and/or anxiety. The study will also evaluate proof of concept that such an approach has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for those with secondary personality difficulties and report any possible harms identified. The study will inform the design of a future randomised controlled trial designed to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the training.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN81104604 . Submitted on 6th June 2022. Registration date: 3rd January 2023.

Is there a 'bipolar iceberg' in UK primary care psychological therapy services?

BACKGROUND

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a primary care therapy service commissioned by England's National Health Service (NHS) for people with unipolar depression and anxiety-related disorders. Its scope does not extend to 'severe mental illness', including bipolar disorders (BD), but evidence suggests there is a high BD prevalence in ostensibly unipolar major depressive disorder (uMDD) samples. This study aimed to indicate the prevalence and characteristics of people with BD in a naturalistic cohort of IAPT patients.

METHODS

371 participants were assessed before initiating therapy. Participants were categorised by indicated diagnoses: BD type-I (BD-I) or type-II (BD-II) as defined using a DSM diagnostic interview, bipolar spectrum (BSp, not meeting diagnostic criteria but exceeding BD screening thresholds), lifetime uMDD or other. Information about psychiatric history and co-morbidities was examined, along with symptoms before and after therapy.

RESULTS

368 patients provided sufficient data to enable classification. 10% of participants were grouped as having BD-I, 20% BD-II, 40% BSp, 25% uMDD and 5% other. BD and uMDD participants had similar demographic characteristics, but patients meeting criteria for BD-I/BD-II had more complex psychiatric presentations. All three 'bipolar' groups had particularly high rates of anxiety disorders. IAPT therapy receipt was comparable between groups, as was therapy response (F9704 = 1.113, p = 0.351).

CONCLUSIONS

Notwithstanding the possibility that bipolar diathesis was overestimated, findings illustrate a high prevalence of BD in groups of people notionally with uMDD or anxiety. As well as improving the detection of BD, further substantive investigation is required to establish whether individuals affected by BD should be eligible for primary care psychological intervention.

Does trait mindfulness mediate the relationship between borderline personality symptoms and emotion dysregulation?

BACKGROUND

Emotion dysregulation is core to many biopsychosocial models of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and is often targeted as part of their associated psychological therapies. Several distinct specialist psychotherapies are thought to be effective for people diagnosed with BPD but it is unclear whether they share common change mechanisms. Some evidence suggests that Mindfulness Based Interventions improve competency in emotion regulation as well as trait mindfulness, which are both plausibly associated with good treatment outcomes. It is unclear whether the association between the severity of BPD symptoms and emotion dysregulation is mediated by trait mindfulness. Would improvement in trait mindfulness mediate an association between lower severity of BPD symptoms and fewer problems of emotion dysregulation?

METHODS

One thousand and twelve participants completed online, single time-point, self-report questionnaires.

RESULTS

As predicted, the severity of BPD symptoms was significantly and positively associated with emotion dysregulation with a large effect size (r = .77). Trait mindfulness mediated this relationship as the 95% confidence interval for the indirect effect did not cross zero (size of direct effect = .48 and size of indirect effect = .29 [.25, .33].

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between the severity of BPD symptoms and emotion dysregulation was confirmed in this dataset. As hypothesised, this relationship was mediated by trait mindfulness. Process measures of emotion dysregulation and mindfulness should be included in intervention studies for people diagnosed with BPD to understand if improvements in these factors are a universal occurrence with good response to treatment. Other process measures should also be explored to identify other factors involved in the relationship between BPD symptoms and emotion dysregulation.

A randomised controlled trial to investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for depressed non-responders to Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) high-intensity therapies: study protocol

BACKGROUND

Major depression represents a pressing challenge for health care. In England, Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services provide evidence-based psychological therapies in a stepped-care approach to patients with depression. While introduction of these services has successfully increased access to therapy, estimates suggest that about 50% of depressed patients who have come to the end of the IAPT pathway still show significant levels of symptoms. This study will investigate whether Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), a group intervention combining training in mindfulness meditation and elements from cognitive therapy, can have beneficial effects in depressed patients who have not responded to high-intensity therapy in IAPT. It will seek to establish the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of MBCT as compared to the treatment these patients would usually receive.

METHODS

In a 2-arm randomised controlled trial, patients who currently meet the criteria for major depressive disorder and who have not sufficiently responded to at least 12 sessions of IAPT high-intensity therapy will be allocated, at a ratio of 1:1, to receive either MBCT (in addition to treatment as usual [TAU]) or continue with TAU only. Assessments will take place at baseline, 10 weeks and 34 weeks post-randomisation. The primary outcome will be reduction in depression symptomatology 34 weeks post-randomisation as assessed using the Public Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Secondary outcomes will include depressive symptomatology at 10 weeks post-randomisation and other clinical outcomes measured at 10-week and 34-week follow-up, along with a series of binarised outcomes to indicate clinically significant and reliable change. Evaluations of cost-effectiveness will be based on assessments of service use costs collected using the Adult Service Use Schedule and health utilities derived from the EQ-5D.

DISCUSSION

This trial will add to the evidence base for the use of MBCT in depressed treatment non-responders. It will constitute the first trial to test MBCT following non-response to psychological therapy, with results providing a direct estimate of efficacy within the IAPT pathway. As such, its results will offer an important basis for decisions regarding the adoption of MBCT for non-responders within IAPT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05236959. Registered on 11 February 2022. ISRCTN 17755571. Registered on 2 February 2021.

Closing the circle: a key collaborative opportunity for general practice and psychiatry

Two of the authors were general practitioners (GPs) in the 1980s, when there was much interest in consultation, stimulated by the psychoanalyst Michael Balint. Around one in five psychiatrists worked in consultation liaison in general practice at that time, but in the 1990s this was stopped to increase the focus on psychosis. However, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of General Practitioners have a strong history of collaboration, and many psychiatrists, nurses and GPs trained together in the national Trailblazers programme, focusing on service delivery in all areas of mental health. Recent proposals for mental health community collaborative networks from the NHS provide an opportunity for psychiatrists to work with GPs and a range of other professionals once more, for complex non-psychotic illness that cannot be helped by Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services. The circle is closing for GPs like us, who were working in the 1980s.

Patient characteristics associated with retrospectively self-reported treatment outcomes following psychological therapy for anxiety or depressive disorders - a cohort of GLAD study participants

BACKGROUND

Progress towards stratified care for anxiety and depression will require the identification of new predictors. We collected data on retrospectively self-reported therapeutic outcomes in adults who received psychological therapy in the UK in the past ten years. We aimed to replicate factors associated with traditional treatment outcome measures from the literature.

METHODS

Participants were from the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study, a UK-based volunteer cohort study. We investigated associations between retrospectively self-reported outcomes following therapy, on a five-point scale (global rating of change; GRC) and a range of sociodemographic, clinical and therapy-related factors, using ordinal logistic regression models (n = 2890).

RESULTS

Four factors were associated with therapy outcomes (adjusted odds ratios, OR). One sociodemographic factor, having university-level education, was associated with favourable outcomes (OR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.18, 1.59). Two clinical factors, greater number of reported episodes of illness (OR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.92, 0.97) and higher levels of personality disorder symptoms (OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.87, 0.91), were associated with less favourable outcomes. Finally, reported regular use of additional therapeutic activities was associated with favourable outcomes (OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.19, 1.63). There were no statistically significant differences between fully adjusted multivariable and unadjusted univariable odds ratios.

CONCLUSION

Therapy outcome data can be collected quickly and inexpensively using retrospectively self-reported measures in large observational cohorts. Retrospectively self-reported therapy outcomes were associated with four factors previously reported in the literature. Similar data collected in larger observational cohorts may enable detection of novel associations with therapy outcomes, to generate new hypotheses, which can be followed up in prospective studies.

Care pathways for people with major depressive disorder: a European Brain Council Value of Treatment study

Background

Despite well-established guidelines for managing major depressive disorder, its extensive disability burden persists. This Value of Treatment mission from the European Brain Council aimed to elucidate the nature and extent of “gaps” between best-practice and current-practice care, specifically to:Identify current treatment gaps along the care pathway and determine the extent of these gaps in comparison with the stepped-care model and Recommend policies intending to better meet patient needs (i.e., minimize treatment gaps).

Methods

After agreement upon a set of relevant treatment gaps, data pertaining to each gap were gathered and synthesized from several sources across six European countries. Subsequently, a modified Delphi approach was undertaken to attain consensus among an expert panel on proposed recommendations for minimizing treatment gaps.

Results

Four recommendations were made to increase the depression diagnosis rate (from ~50% episodes), aiming to both increase the number of patients seeking help, and the likelihood of a practitioner to correctly detect depression. These should reduce time to treatment (from ~1 to ~8 years after illness onset) and increase rates of treatment; nine further recommendations aimed to increase rates of treatment (from ~25 to ~50% of patients currently treated), mainly focused on targeting the best treatment to each patient. To improve follow-up after treatment initiation (from ~30 to ~65% followed up within 3 months), seven recommendations focused on increasing continuity of care. For those not responding, 10 recommendations focused on ensuring access to more specialist care (currently at rates of ~5–25% of patients).

Conclusions

The treatment gaps in depression care are substantial and concerning, from the proportion of people not entering care pathways to those stagnating in primary care with impairing and persistent illness. A wide range of recommendations can be made to enhance care throughout the pathway.

Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility evaluation of individual vs. group transdiagnostic psychological treatment for emotional disorders in primary care (PsicAP-Costs): a multicentre randomized controlled trial protocol

BACKGROUND

Emotional disorders are common, and they have become more prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a high attendance burden at the specialized level, most emotional disorders in Spain are treated in primary care, where they are usually misdiagnosed and treated using psychotropic drugs. This contributes to perpetuate their illness and increase health care costs. Following the IAPT programme and the transdiagnostic approach, the PsicAP project developed a brief group transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy (tCBT) as a cost-effective alternative. However, it is not suitable for everyone; in some cases, one-on-one sessions may be more effective. The objective of the present study is to compare, in cost-benefit terms, group and individual tCBT with the treatment usually administered in Spanish primary care (TAU).

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, multicentre, and single-blinded trial will be performed. Adults with mild to moderate emotional disorders will be recruited and placed in one of three arms: group tCBT, individual tCBT, or TAU. Medical data and outcomes regarding emotional symptoms, disability, quality of life, and emotion regulation biases will be collected at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 6 and 12 months later. The data will be used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios.

DISCUSSION

This trial aims to contribute to clinical practice research. The involvement of psychologists in primary care and the implementation of a stepped-care model for mental disorders are recommended. Group therapy and a transdiagnostic approach may help optimize health system resources and unblock waiting lists so that people can spend less time experiencing mental health problems.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04847310; Protocols.io: bx2npqde. (April 19, 2021).

Investigating Effectiveness and Predicting Outcome and Dropout From Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving for Emotional Intensity Difficulties (STEPPS EI) in UK Primary Care

Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) for borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been adapted for a primary care setting into a 13-week group treatment for emotional intensity difficulties (STEPPS EI). This is the first study to examine the effectiveness and potential outcome and dropout predictors of STEPPS EI in a primary care setting. Severity of BPD, depression, and anxiety symptoms were measured pre- and postintervention for 148 participants. Treatment completers showed improvements in depression, anxiety, and BPD symptoms with medium to large effect sizes. A predictor of symptom improvement was higher baseline severity for each of the symptom measures. Attending a psychoeducational group prior to STEPPS EI was associated with lower odds of dropout. The findings support the use of STEPPS EI in a primary care setting, with the potential to alleviate the burden from other local services.

Comparison of depression and anxiety symptom networks in reporters and non-reporters of lifetime trauma in two samples of differing severity

BACKGROUND

Reported trauma is associated with differences in the course and outcomes of depression and anxiety. However, no research has explored the association between reported trauma and patterns of clinically relevant symptoms of both depression and anxiety.

METHODS

We used network analysis to investigate associations between reported trauma and depression and anxiety symptom interactions in affected individuals from the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study (n = 17720), and population volunteers from the UK Biobank (n = 11120). Participants with current moderate symptoms of depression or anxiety were grouped into reporters and non-reporters of lifetime trauma. Networks of 16 depression and anxiety symptoms in the two groups were compared using the network comparison test.

RESULTS

In the GLAD Study, networks of reporters and non-reporters of lifetime trauma did not differ on any metric. In the UK Biobank, the symptom network of reporters had significantly greater density (7.80) than the network of non-reporters (7.05).

LIMITATIONS

The data collected in the GLAD Study and the UK Biobank are self-reported with validated or semi-validated questionnaires.

CONCLUSIONS

Reported lifetime trauma was associated with stronger interactions between symptoms of depression and anxiety in population volunteers. Differences between reporters and non-reporters may not be observed in individuals with severe depression and/or anxiety due to limited variance in the presentation of disorder.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) has potential but is not sufficient: How can it better meet the range of primary care mental health needs?

BACKGROUND

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has been impactful in increasing access to psychological therapies at primary care level. However, it remains unclear whether IAPT's widely disseminated achievements include the reduction in service users' transition to secondary care services and whether IAPT services are providing interventions that match the level of complexity of presenting problems of those who are referred.

AIMS

This review sets out to clarify the clinical characteristics of IAPT cohorts, whether the interventions provided target these characteristics, and whether outcomes are related to the use of the stepped-care model advocated in the operationalization of IAPT services.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was undertaken on PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Embase using the terms: IAPT, anxiety, and depression.

RESULTS

Of 472 paper identified, 24 articles were deemed pertinent. It appears that IAPT cohorts are complex and current service delivery frameworks may not meet their needs. IAPT developments and research for long-term physical health conditions and serious mental illness have been recently advocated, though whether these are sufficient and viable when set in IAPT's prescriptive backdrop remains unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies provision and research at present does not adequately consider the complexity of its clientele in the context of treatment outcomes and service delivery. Recommendations are provided for future research and practice to tackle these deficiencies.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) has significantly increased access to psychological therapies within primary care over the last decade, though it is unclear whether its interventions are sufficiently tailored to meet the actual levels of complexity of its clientele and prevent them from needing onward referral to secondary care as originally envisaged. Given the ongoing focus on and investment in IAPT informed developments into long-term conditions and serious mental illness, this review considers whether additional elucidation of the model's original objectives is required, as a precursor to its expansion into other clinical areas. The review indicates that there is a stark lack of data pertaining to the generalisable, real-world clinical benefits of the IAPT programme as it currently stands. Recommendations are provided for future areas of research, and practice enhancements to ensure the value of IAPT services to clients in the wider context of NHS mental health services, including the interface with secondary care, are considered.

Frequency and impact of childhood sexual and physical abuse on people using IAPT services

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the prevalence of childhood sexual/physical abuse (CSA/CPA) as identified by practitioners in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services and clarified differences in clients' characteristics with and without a history of CSA/CPA.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a large dataset comprised of IAPT routine data and data from a local service evaluation reporting on clients' presenting problems.

RESULTS

14% of IAPT clients (n = 1,315) were identified with a record of CSA/CPA. CSA/CPA history was associated with longer duration and earlier age of onset of condition(s), greater number of presenting problems and post-traumatic stress disorder co-occurrence, higher intensity treatment delivery, and lower recovery rates.

CONCLUSIONS

CSA/CPA history appears as an important feature in a sizable minority of IAPT clients; further work is required to meet clients' trauma-related needs.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

A sizable minority of IAPT clients (14%) present with a history of CSA/CPA as recorded in clinical notes. CSA/CPA history is associated with more complex and enduring presentations in IAPT clients. The reported CSA/CPA frequency is likely to be underestimates of the actual prevalence and impact of adverse childhood experiences in IAPT clients. Trauma-informed inquiry and trauma-specific screening tools would help practitioners to meet clients' trauma-related needs.

Subthreshold personality disorder: how feasible is treatment in primary care?

Individuals with subthreshold borderline personality disorder (BPD) are commonly encountered in primary care settings, yet the psychological treatments they receive are rarely tailored to their needs. In an effort to capture and treat this group of individuals in a targeted and meaningful way, some primary care settings offer Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving – Emotional Intensity (STEPPS-EI). This evaluation sought to assess the feasibility of STEPPS-EI within NHS primary care services. Employing an uncontrolled design, the evaluation examined recruitment, retention, effectiveness and group appraisal. Findings supported three out of four evaluation objectives for feasibility: uptake of the group was high at 74%, the group was well received by the group and significantly effective at reducing symptoms of BPD, depression and anxiety. However, retention rates were low, with only 43% classed as ‘completers’ of the programme. The results indicate preliminary evidence for STEPPS-EI as a potentially feasible intervention with possible modification to enhance retention and avenues for further study.

Key learning aims

After reading this paper, the reader will be aware of: (1)

Social anxiety and agoraphobia symptoms effectively treated by Prompt Mental Health Care versus TAU at 6- and 12-month follow-up: Secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Prompt Mental Health Care (PMHC, Norwegian adaption of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) has shown effects on symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to treatment as usual (TAU). In this secondary analysis, we examine the effectiveness of PMHC among clients presenting with symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and/or agoraphobia on core symptoms at 6- and 12-month follow-up.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trial in two PMHC sites (70:30 ratio PMHC:TAU). Of participants, 61.3% (n = 472) scored at caseness for SAD and 47.7% (n = 367) for agoraphobia (40% both). Effects on SAD avoidance and physiological discomfort (SPIN-9), SAD cognitions (ATQ-SA), agoraphobic avoidance (MIA-8), and agoraphobic cognitions (ATQ-AP) were examined in piecewise growth models.

RESULTS

The PMHC group showed substantially greater symptom reduction than the TAU group for all outcomes: At 6-month follow-up, the between-group effect sizes were d -0.60 (95% CI: -0.94 to -0.26) for SPIN-9, -0.45 (95% CI: -0.70 to -0.20) for ATQ-SA, -0.50 (95% CI: -0.87 to -0.13) for MIA-8, and -0.61 (95% CI: -0.92 to -0.31) for ATQ-AP. All effects were sustained at similar level at a 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

PMHC effectively alleviated SAD and agoraphobia symptoms, and individuals struggling with such symptoms constituted a large proportion of clients. Although results should be interpreted with caution due to risk of attrition bias, they lend further support for a scale-up of PMHC and similar initiatives. Individuals struggling with SAD and/or agoraphobia stood out as relatively high burdened, whereas only one of five had sought help the last 12 months, underscoring the need for the PMHC service.

Personality difficulties and response to community-based psychological treatment for anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

Previous research suggests that comorbid personality disorder may be associated with a less favourable treatment outcome for individuals with depression and anxiety disorder. However, little is known about whether personality difficulties are associated with treatment outcomes within Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services-the largest platform for treating depression and anxiety in England, UK. Secondary aims were to investigate i) whether individual personality difficulties are associated with treatment outcome and ii) whether findings are moderated by treatment type.

METHODS

The sample included 3,689 adults who accessed community-based psychological treatment (cognitive behavioural therapy, emotional skills training, or other psychological therapy) for depression and/or anxiety disorder. Associations between personality difficulties (assessed with the Standardised Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS)) and treatment outcomes (recovery and reliable improvement in depression/anxiety symptom scores, assessed using questionnaire-based measures) were investigated using logistic/linear regression.

RESULTS

Personality difficulties were associated with a reduced likelihood of recovery (adjusted OR per unit increase on SAPAS: depression=0.87, 95%CI 0.84, 0.91; anxiety=0.86, 95%CI 0.82, 0.90) and reliable improvement (adjusted OR per unit increase on SAPAS: depression=0.88, 95%CI 0.84, 0.92; anxiety=0.85, 95%CI 0.82, 0.89). Those with three or more difficulties were over 30% less likely to recover/reliably improve.

LIMITATIONS

Personality difficulties data were collected via self-report and were not available for all participants.

CONCLUSION

Patients with personality difficulties have a less favourable response to psychological treatment for depression/anxiety disorder. If replicated, the findings highlight a major challenge to the way community-based psychological therapy services in England (IAPT services) are presently constituted.

The association of migration and ethnicity with use of the Improving Access to Psychological Treatment (IAPT) programme: a general population cohort study

BACKGROUND

Common mental disorders (CMD), such as depression and anxiety, are an important cause of morbidity, economic burden and public mental health need. The UK Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is a national effort to reduce the burden and impact of CMD, available since 2008.

AIMS

To examine ethnic and migration-related differences in use of IAPT-based psychological treatment using a novel epidemiological dataset with linkage to de-identified IAPT records.

METHOD

Data from a psychiatric morbidity survey of two South East London boroughs (2008-2010) were individually-linked to data on IAPT services serving those boroughs. We used Poisson regression to estimate association between ethnicity and migration status (including years of UK residence), with rate of subsequent use of psychological treatment.

RESULTS

The rate of psychological treatment use was 14.4 cases per thousand person years [cases/1000 pyrs, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 12.4, 16.7]. There was strong statistical evidence that compared to non-migrants, migrants residing in the UK for less than 10 years were less likely to use psychological treatment after adjustment for probable sociodemographic predictors of need, life adversity, and physical/psychiatric morbidity at baseline [rate ratio (RR) 0.4 (95% CI 0.20, 0.75]. This difference was not explained by migration for asylum/political reasons, or English language proficiency, and was evident for both self- and GP referrals.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower use of IAPT among recent migrants is unexplained by sociodemographics, adversity, and baseline morbidity. Further research should focus on other individual-level and societal barriers to psychological treatment use among recent migrants to the UK, including in categories of intersecting migration and ethnicity.

Inflammatory Proteins and Clinical Response to Psychological Therapy in Patients with Depression: An Exploratory Study

In people with depression, immune dysfunctions have been linked with treatment non-response, but examinations of psychological therapy outcomes, particularly longitudinal biomarker studies, are rare. This study investigated relationships between inflammation, depressive subtypes and clinical outcomes to psychological therapy. Adults with depression (n = 96) were assessed before and after a course of naturalistically-delivered psychological therapy. In total, 32 serum inflammatory proteins were examined alongside therapy outcomes and depressive subtypes (somatic/cognitive symptom subtype, and bipolar/unipolar depression). Overall, 49% of participants responded to treatment. High levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM1), and low interferon-γ (IFNγ), preceded a poorer response to therapy. After therapy, non-responders had elevated c-reactive protein (CRP), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-4 (MCP4), and attenuated IFNy. Non-somatic depressive symptoms were universally not associated with proteins, while somatic-depressive symptom severity was positively correlated with several pro-inflammatory markers. In the somatic subgroup only, IL-6 and serum amyloid alpha (SAA) decreased between pre- and post-therapy timepoints. Regardless of treatment response, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15 and IL-17 increased over time. These results suggest that inflammation is associated with somatic symptoms of depression and non-response to psychological therapy. Future work may enhance the prospective prediction of treatment-response by examining larger samples of individuals undertaking standardised treatment programmes.

More sensitive identification of psychotic experiences in common mental disorder by primary mental healthcare services - effect on prevalence and recovery: casting the net wider

BACKGROUND

Psychotic experiences may emerge in more severe cases of common mental disorders (CMD). Previous work identified that 30% of patients treated by mental health services in primary healthcare, specifically the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme in England, reported psychotic experiences, began treatment with more severe CMD and were less likely to reach recovery.

AIMS

To replicate our previous assessment of psychotic experiences in the IAPT programme using a more sensitive threshold and determine its impact on the prevalence of psychotic experience and likelihood of recovery. Additionally, to compare recovery rates between patients with and without psychotic experiences at the end of therapy.

METHOD

The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15) with a cut-off of 1.30 was used to determine the prevalence of psychotic experiences. Recovery rates were determined using measures collected in the IAPT programme for depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Multi-group growth models estimated improvement trajectories.

RESULTS

In total, 2042 patients with CMD completed the CAPE-P15. The mean age was 39.8. The prevalence of psychotic experiences was 18% higher when using a lower threshold. The recovery rate for patients with psychotic experiences was lower (36%) than for those without (64%). Despite sharing similar improvement trajectories, the higher initial severity of CMD among patients with psychotic experiences impeded likelihood of recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

As psychotic experiences may be a marker of severity in CMD, the benefits of identifying these in IAPT populations may also apply to patients with milder experiences. Further investigation of the consequential demands on service provision and how this would affect clinical practice is recommended.

Personality disorder co-morbidity in primary care ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapy’ (IAPT) services: a qualitative study exploring patient perspectives on treatment experience

Background:

High numbers of people present with common mental health disorders and co-morbid personality disorder traits in primary care ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) services in England and they receive sub-optimal treatments. No previous studies have explored the treatment experiences or needs of this patient population in England.

Aims:

This qualitative study explored the treatment experiences of patients (n = 22) with common mental health difficulties and co-morbid personality disorder as indicated by a score of 3 or more on the ‘Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale’ (SAPAS) in receipt of primary care-based IAPT treatment.

Method:

A qualitative health research approach was used. Qualitative individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. All interviews were audio recorded, data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework analysis approach.

Results:

Findings revealed a need to adapt away from prescriptive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment models towards more flexible, personalised and individualised treatment with this patient group. Time to emotionally offload, build a therapeutic relationship and link past experiences to presenting problems were highlighted as important.

Conclusions:

For the first time, the needs and treatment experiences of this patient group have been explored. This paper provides a unique patient experience insight that should be considered when exploring new approaches to working with and developing effective interventions via a stepped care approach.

Psychological and pharmacological interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid mental health problems following complex traumatic events: Systematic review and component network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Complex traumatic events associated with armed conflict, forcible displacement, childhood sexual abuse, and domestic violence are increasingly prevalent. People exposed to complex traumatic events are at risk of not only posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also other mental health comorbidities. Whereas evidence-based psychological and pharmacological treatments are effective for single-event PTSD, it is not known if people who have experienced complex traumatic events can benefit and tolerate these commonly available treatments. Furthermore, it is not known which components of psychological interventions are most effective for managing PTSD in this population. We performed a systematic review and component network meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological interventions for managing mental health problems in people exposed to complex traumatic events.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We searched CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, MEDLINE, Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress, PsycINFO, and Science Citation Index for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs of psychological and pharmacological treatments for PTSD symptoms in people exposed to complex traumatic events, published up to 25 October 2019. We adopted a nondiagnostic approach and included studies of adults who have experienced complex trauma. Complex-trauma subgroups included veterans; childhood sexual abuse; war-affected; refugees; and domestic violence. The primary outcome was reduction in PTSD symptoms. Secondary outcomes were depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, sleep quality, and positive and negative affect. We included 116 studies, of which 50 were conducted in hospital settings, 24 were delivered in community settings, seven were delivered in military clinics for veterans or active military personnel, five were conducted in refugee camps, four used remote delivery via web-based or telephone platforms, four were conducted in specialist trauma clinics, two were delivered in home settings, and two were delivered in primary care clinics; clinical setting was not reported in 17 studies. Ninety-four RCTs, for a total of 6,158 participants, were included in meta-analyses across the primary and secondary outcomes; 18 RCTs for a total of 933 participants were included in the component network meta-analysis. The mean age of participants in the included RCTs was 42.6 ± 9.3 years, and 42% were male. Nine non-RCTs were included. The mean age of participants in the non-RCTs was 40.6 ± 9.4 years, and 47% were male. The average length of follow-up across all included studies at posttreatment for the primary outcome was 11.5 weeks. The pairwise meta-analysis showed that psychological interventions reduce PTSD symptoms more than inactive control (k = 46; n = 3,389; standardised mean difference [SMD] = -0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.02 to -0.63) and active control (k-9; n = 662; SMD = -0.35, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.14) at posttreatment and also compared with inactive control at 6-month follow-up (k = 10; n = 738; SMD = -0.45, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.08). Psychological interventions reduced depressive symptoms (k = 31; n = 2,075; SMD = -0.87, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.63; I2 = 82.7%, p = 0.000) and anxiety (k = 15; n = 1,395; SMD = -1.03, 95% CI -1.44 to -0.61; p = 0.000) at posttreatment compared with inactive control. Sleep quality was significantly improved at posttreatment by psychological interventions compared with inactive control (k = 3; n = 111; SMD = -1.00, 95% CI -1.49 to -0.51; p = 0.245). There were no significant differences between psychological interventions and inactive control group at posttreatment for quality of life (k = 6; n = 401; SMD = 0.33, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.66; p = 0.021). Antipsychotic medicine (k = 5; n = 364; SMD = -0.45; -0.85 to -0.05; p = 0.085) and prazosin (k = 3; n = 110; SMD = -0.52; -1.03 to -0.02; p = 0.182) were effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. Phase-based psychological interventions that included skills-based strategies along with trauma-focused strategies were the most promising interventions for emotional dysregulation and interpersonal problems. Compared with pharmacological interventions, we observed that psychological interventions were associated with greater reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms and improved sleep quality. Sensitivity analysis showed that psychological interventions were acceptable with lower dropout, even in studies rated at low risk of attrition bias. Trauma-focused psychological interventions were superior to non-trauma-focused interventions across trauma subgroups for PTSD symptoms, but effects among veterans and war-affected populations were significantly reduced. The network meta-analysis showed that multicomponent interventions that included cognitive restructuring and imaginal exposure were the most effective for reducing PTSD symptoms (k = 17; n = 1,077; mean difference = -37.95, 95% CI -60.84 to -15.16). Our use of a non-diagnostic inclusion strategy may have overlooked certain complex-trauma populations with severe and enduring mental health comorbidities. Additionally, the relative contribution of skills-based intervention components was not feasibly evaluated in the network meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we observed that trauma-focused psychological interventions are effective for managing mental health problems and comorbidities in people exposed to complex trauma. Multicomponent interventions, which can include phase-based approaches, were the most effective treatment package for managing PTSD in complex trauma. Establishing optimal ways to deliver multicomponent psychological interventions for people exposed to complex traumatic events is a research and clinical priority.

A systematic review of factors associated with outcome of psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder

OBJECTIVE

Psychological interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are not always effective and can leave some individuals with enduring symptoms. Little is known about factors that are associated with better or worse treatment outcome. Our objective was to address this gap.

METHOD

We undertook a systematic review following Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines. We included 126 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological interventions for PTSD and examined factors that were associated with treatment outcome, in terms of severity of PTSD symptoms post-treatment, and recovery or remission.

RESULTS

Associations were neither consistent nor strong. Two factors were associated with smaller reductions in severity of PTSD symptoms post-treatment: comorbid diagnosis of depression, and higher PTSD symptom severity at baseline assessment. Higher education, adherence to homework and experience of a more recent trauma were associated with better treatment outcome.

CONCLUSION

Identifying and understanding why certain factors are associated with treatment outcome is vital to determine which individuals are most likely to benefit from particular treatments and to develop more effective treatments in the future. There is an urgent need for consistent and standardized reporting of factors associated with treatment outcome in all clinical trials.

Prevalence of and recovery from common mental disorder including psychotic experiences in the UK Primary Care Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programme

BACKGROUND

Psychotic experiences (PE) may co-occur with common mental disorders (CMD), such as depression and anxiety. However, we know very little about the prevalence of and recovery from PE in primary mental health care settings, such as the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in the UK National Health Service (NHS), where most CMD are treated.

METHODS

We used the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences - Positive 15-item Scale (CAPE-P15) to determine the prevalence of PE in patients receiving treatment from IAPT services. Patient-reported measures of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) are routinely collected and establish recovery in IAPT services. We studied recovery rates according to the absence and presence of PE. Multi-group growth models estimated improvement trajectories for each group.

RESULTS

A total of 2,042 patients with CMD completed the CAPE-P15. The mean age was 39.8. The overall prevalence of PE was 29.68%. The recovery rate was 27.43% compared to 62.08% for those without PE. Although patients with or without PE shared similar improvement trajectories, the initial severity of patients with PE impeded their likelihood of recovery.

LIMITATIONS

We mirrored routine data collection in IAPT services, including self-report questionnaires that may affect valid reporting of symptoms. Missing data in the calculation of improvement trajectories may reduce generalisability.

CONCLUSIONS

At least one in four patients receiving treatment from IAPT services in primary care experience CMD and PE. This significant group of people experience a lower recovery rate, with adverse implications not only for them but also for efficiency of services.

Do people living in disadvantaged circumstances receive different mental health treatments than those from less disadvantaged backgrounds?

BACKGROUND

Socio-economic status (SES) has been linked to treatment outcomes for mental health problems, whilst little to no literature has explored the effects of SES on access to both medication and psychological therapy. The aim of this study was to explore whether access to mental health treatments differed by SES.

METHODS

The North West Coast Household Health Survey (HHS) collected data from residents aged 18+ from across 20 disadvantaged and 8 less disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 2015, and from 20 disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 2018. Logistic regression was used to explore the effects of SES on access to treatment (medication, psychological therapy) for people who had experienced mental health problems in the past 12 months.

RESULTS

Of 6860 participants, 2932 reported experiencing mental health problems in the past 12 months. People from more disadvantaged backgrounds experienced greater rates of anxiety and depression. Anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication treatment was significantly more common in residents with lower SES, as well as counselling. Regression analysis showed that residents from more disadvantaged neighbourhoods who reported mental distress were more likely to receive medication.

CONCLUSIONS

This appears to be the first study showing higher levels of treatment with medication and psychological therapy in people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Future research needs to address the underlying factors associated with increased mental health treatment uptake in people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Do people living in disadvantaged circumstances receive different mental health treatments than those from less disadvantaged backgrounds?

BACKGROUND

Socio-economic status (SES) has been linked to treatment outcomes for mental health problems, whilst little to no literature has explored the effects of SES on access to both medication and psychological therapy. The aim of this study was to explore whether access to mental health treatments differed by SES.

METHODS

The North West Coast Household Health Survey (HHS) collected data from residents aged 18+ from across 20 disadvantaged and 8 less disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 2015, and from 20 disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 2018. Logistic regression was used to explore the effects of SES on access to treatment (medication, psychological therapy) for people who had experienced mental health problems in the past 12 months.

RESULTS

Of 6860 participants, 2932 reported experiencing mental health problems in the past 12 months. People from more disadvantaged backgrounds experienced greater rates of anxiety and depression. Anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication treatment was significantly more common in residents with lower SES, as well as counselling. Regression analysis showed that residents from more disadvantaged neighbourhoods who reported mental distress were more likely to receive medication.

CONCLUSIONS

This appears to be the first study showing higher levels of treatment with medication and psychological therapy in people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Future research needs to address the underlying factors associated with increased mental health treatment uptake in people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Can a Community-Led Intervention Offering Social Support and Health Education Improve Maternal Health? A Repeated Measures Evaluation of the PACT Project Run in a Socially Deprived London Borough

Social adversity can significantly influence the wellbeing of mothers and their children. Maternal health may be improved through strengthened support networks and better health literacy. Health improvement at the population level requires optimizing of the collaboration between statutory health services, civic organizations (e.g., churches, schools), as well as community groups and parents. Two key elements in improving community engagement are co-production and community control. This study evaluated a co-produced and community-led project, PACT (Parents and Communities Together), for mothers in a deprived south London borough. The project offered social support and health education. Intended effects were improvements in mental health, health literacy, and social support, assessed by standardized measures in a pre-post design. Sixty-one mothers consented to take part in the evaluation. Significant improvements were found in mental health measures, in health literacy, for those with low literacy at baseline, and in overall and some specific aspects of social support. Satisfaction with the project was high. We found that the project engaged local populations that access statutory health services relatively less. We conclude that community-organized and community-led interventions in collaboration with statutory health services can increase accessibility and can improve mothers' mental health and other health-related outcomes.

Clinical judgement, case complexity and symptom scores as predictors of outcome in depression: an exploratory analysis

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines for depression in adults recommend the use of outcome measures and stepped care models in routine care. Such measures are based on symptom severity, but response to treatment is likely to also be influenced by personal and contextual factors. This observational study of a routine clinical sample sought to examine the extent to which "symptom severity measures" and "complexity measures" assess different aspects of patient experience, and how they might relate to clinical outcomes, including disengagement from treatment.

METHODS

Subjects with symptoms of depression (with or without comorbid anxiety) were recruited from people referred to an established Primary Care Mental Health Team using a stepped care model. Each participant completed three baseline symptom measures (the Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD) and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10)), and two assessments of "case complexity" (the Minnesota-Edinburgh Complexity Assessment Measure (MECAM) and a local complexity assessment). Clinician perception of likely completion of treatment and patient recovery was also assessed. Outcome measures were drop out and clinical improvement on the PHQ.

RESULTS

298 subjects were recruited to the study, of whom 258 had a sufficient dataset available for analysis. Data showed that the three measures of symptom severity used in this study (PHQ, GAD and CORE-10) seemed to be measuring distinct characteristics from those associated with the measures of case complexity (MECAM, previous and current problem count). Higher symptom severity scores were correlated with improved outcomes at the end of treatment, but there was no association between outcome and complexity measures. Clinicians could predict participant drop-out from care with some accuracy, but had no ability to predict outcome from treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the extent to which drop-out complicates recovery from depression with or without anxiety in real-world settings, and the need to consider other factors beyond symptom severity in planning care. The findings are discussed in relation to a growing body of literature investigating prognostic indicators in the context of models of collaborative care for depression.

Personality disorder co-morbidity in primary care 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapy' services: A qualitative study exploring professionals' perspectives of working with this patient group

A high prevalence of people present to 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' (IAPT) in England with common mental health disorders and co-morbid personality disorder. This group have suboptimal treatment outcomes in IAPT. Whilst new short-term treatment approaches are advocated, no solutions or guidance have been provided. This qualitative study explored IAPT health-care professional (N = 28) perspectives of working with people who present to IAPT with co-morbid personality disorder. Individual semi-structured interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework analysis approach. Results identified a lack of skills and confidence in working with this patient group, restrictive service constraints and a treatment gap between the interface of primary and secondary services. Insight into acceptable adaptions to practice are identified that have transferable utility to a wider international audience who can identify people outside of specialist mental health services with common mental health disorders and co-morbid personality disorder traits. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hair cortisol and childhood trauma predict psychological therapy response in depression and anxiety disorders

OBJECTIVE

Around 30-50% of patients with depression and anxiety disorders fail to respond to standard psychological therapy. Given that cortisol affects cognition, patients with altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning may benefit less from such treatments. To investigate this, reliable pretreatment cortisol measures are needed.

METHOD

N = 89 outpatients with depression and anxiety disorders were recruited before undergoing therapy within an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service. Three-month hair cortisol was determined, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was administered. Patients were classified as responders if they showed significant decreases in depression (>= 6 points on the Patient Health Questionnaire) or anxiety (>= 5 points on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale).

RESULTS

Non-responders in terms of depression (57%) had lower pretreatment hair cortisol concentrations (P = 0.041) and reported more physical abuse (P = 0.024), sexual abuse (P = 0.010) and total trauma (P = 0.039) when compared to responders. Non-responders in terms of anxiety (48%) had lower pretreatment hair cortisol (P = 0.027), as well as higher levels of emotional abuse (P = 0.034), physical abuse (P = 0.042) and total trauma (P = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

If future research confirms hair cortisol to be a predictor of psychological therapy response, this may prove a useful clinical biomarker which identifies a subgroup requiring more intensive treatment.

A cost-benefit analysis of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme using its key defining outcomes

The economic argument underpinning the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programme has been a central component in its initial and continued investment. Using open-access data, this article undertook a cost-benefit analysis using the programme's key defining outcomes to determine its return-on-investment. It was found that in terms of investment and efficiency gains, the programme was in the higher ends of the cost spectrum for delivering psychological therapies. Although cost-estimates appear promising at first, when set in the context of a lower number of treatment contacts and a high proportion of early disengagement, estimates increased sharply.

Comparison of Treatment Outcomes Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Individuals Receiving a Primary Care Psychological Intervention

BACKGROUND

Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals experience more anxiety and depression than heterosexual people. Little is known about their comparative treatment response to psychological interventions.

AIMS

To compare sociodemographic/clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes across sexual orientation groups, for adults receiving primary care psychological interventions from Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in London, adjusting for possible confounders.

METHOD

Data from 188 lesbian women, 222 bisexual women, 6637 heterosexual women, 645 gay men, 75 bisexual men and 3024 heterosexual men were analysed from pre-treatment and last treatment sessions. Males and females were analysed separately.

RESULTS

Before treatment, lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to report clinical levels of impairment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale) than heterosexual women; there were no significant differences in depression (PHQ-9) or anxiety (GAD-7). Bisexual men were more likely to meet depression caseness than gay men but less likely to meet anxiety caseness than gay or heterosexual men. Compared with heterosexual women, lesbian and bisexual individuals showed smaller reductions in depression and impairment, controlling for age, ethnicity, employment, baseline symptoms, number of sessions and intervention type. Bisexual women experienced significantly smaller reductions in anxiety than heterosexual women and were less likely to show recovery or reliable recovery. There were no significant differences in treatment outcomes between gay, bisexual and heterosexual men.

CONCLUSIONS

Reasons for poorer outcomes in lesbian and bisexual women require investigation, for example lifetime trauma or stigma/discrimination regarding gender or sexual orientation in everyday life or within therapy services.