Exploring engagement with between-session work for Low Intensity CBT 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring engagement with between-session work for Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) delivered in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services
IRAS ID
309616
Contact name
Penny Bee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety have significant impacts for both the individual and society. To increase access to recommended psychological treatment, the NHS nationally implemented the ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)’ program in 2008.
As recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), many individuals referred into IAPT services are offered talking therapy in the form of Low Intensity (LI) treatment based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Typically supported by Psychological Well-being Practitioners (PWPs), LI CBT aims to enable patients to develop coping strategies to self-manage their difficulties. However, treatment duration and practitioner input are often minimal (usually up to six 30-minute treatment sessions), meaning patients are encouraged to independently complete therapeutic work outside of treatment sessions. ‘Between-session work’ allows patients to transfer skills learnt in sessions into everyday life where presenting problems naturally occur.
Previous research has shown that when patients engage well with between-session work during therapy, treatment outcomes are enhanced, and symptoms are greater reduced. Yet between session engagement appears to vary and a lack of patient engagement with between-session work in CBT is commonly reported. Concerningly, findings from individual studies seeking to identify factors which affect patient engagement with between-session work have been inconclusive.
To better understand factors that affect engagement with between-session work, we conducted a systematic review exploring the predictors of between-session engagement in CBT. The findings of this review will be used to develop a conceptual model of engagement with between-session work for CBT-based interventions. We wish to further test this model by interviewing LI IAPT patients and professionals about their views and experiences of between-session work during an LI CBT-based intervention. Participants will be recruited from NHS and third sector IAPT services over a period of 12 months.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0184
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion