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Brief psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in a secondary care adult mental health service: an evaluation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2021

Kate Roberts ,
Emma Travers-Hill ,
Siân Coker ,
Jordan Troup ,
Stephanie Casey ,
Katherine Parkin  and
Youngsuk Kim
Kate Roberts*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, NorwichNR4 7TJ, UK
Emma Travers-Hill*
Affiliation:
Cambridge Adult Locality Mental Health Team, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, 37 Union House, Union Lane, CambridgeCB4 1PR, UK School of Psychology, University of Kent, CanterburyCT2 7FS, UK
Siân Coker
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, NorwichNR4 7TJ, UK
Jordan Troup
Affiliation:
Cambridge Adult Locality Mental Health Team, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, 37 Union House, Union Lane, CambridgeCB4 1PR, UK
Stephanie Casey
Affiliation:
Cambridge Adult Locality Mental Health Team, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, 37 Union House, Union Lane, CambridgeCB4 1PR, UK
Katherine Parkin
Affiliation:
Cambridge Adult Locality Mental Health Team, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, 37 Union House, Union Lane, CambridgeCB4 1PR, UK
Youngsuk Kim
Affiliation:
Cambridge Adult Locality Mental Health Team, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, 37 Union House, Union Lane, CambridgeCB4 1PR, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: kate.roberts24@nhs.net; e.l.travers-hill@kent.ac.uk
*Corresponding author. Email: kate.roberts24@nhs.net; e.l.travers-hill@kent.ac.uk
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Abstract

Due to continuing pressures on the UK National Health Service’s mental health services, there has been increased interest in the development of brief psychological interventions (BPIs). These interventions are usually defined as including selected components of established psychological interventions, delivered over fewer sessions, and by staff with less specialised training (paraprofessionals). Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based BPIs for anxiety and depression have been found to be helpful for clients with mild to moderate mental health problems. This project evaluates the introduction of BPIs for anxiety and depression in a secondary care adult mental health service, with clients experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. The service developed CBT-based manuals for anxiety (anxiety management) and depression (behavioural activation) BPIs. The BPIs were delivered by mental health workers without core therapeutic training, who were offered training and group supervision by psychologists in the team. Measures of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), wellbeing (SWEMWBS) and functioning (WSAS) were completed at the start and end of treatment. The data reported from a 2-year period suggest that BPIs are associated with reductions in symptoms of anxiety and low mood, and improvements in wellbeing and functioning. Whilst this is a small-scale initial evaluation, the results are promising for the potential benefit of BPIs for clients in secondary care settings. Given that this new way of working has possible additional benefits such as improving access to psychological treatment and cost-effectiveness, further research in the area is warranted and encouraged.

Key learning aims

  1. (1) To overview the current evidence for BPIs.

  2. (2) To outline a possible model for offering BPIs in secondary care.

  3. (3) To illustrate the potential positive effects of BPIs within a secondary care population.

  4. (4) To consider the need for future research and development of BPIs.

Keywords

anxietybehavioural activationbrief psychological interventionCBTdepression
Type
Service Models, Forms of Delivery and Cultural Adaptations of CBT
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 14 , 2021 , e29
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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References

Further reading

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Cape, J., Whittington, C., Buszewicz, M., Wallace, P., & Underwood, L. (2010). Brief psychological therapies for anxiety and depression in primary care: meta-analysis and meta-regression. BMC Medicine, 8, 38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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