Improving long-term benefits for depression and anxiety (CO-IMPROVE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Co-developing Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services to improve long-term benefits for patients with depression and anxiety (CO-IMPROVE)
IRAS ID
323641
Contact name
Cintia Faija
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Why? Research conducted in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services found that 53% of patients successfully completing low intensity psychological interventions for depression and/or anxiety experienced relapse within one year following treatment, with the vast majority doing so within 2 to 6 months.
What? Our research aims to understand what may facilitate/interfere with maintaining treatment gains following treatment and may help to prevent relapse to improve long-term benefits for IAPT patients following their care.
Who? We will be inviting patient, practitioners, and key informants (e.g., clinical academics, national leads) to take part in this research.
-Patients: aged 18 or over, that have received low intensity treatment for anxiety/depression in IAPT services in the last 6 months and met IAPT criteria for recovery at discharge.
-Practitioners/key informants: trainees/qualified practitioners delivering low intensity interventions in IAPT, IAPT Service Leads/Managers, IAPT Trainers, Clinical Academics, Policy Makers, National Leads and other IAPT stakeholders.
Where? Patients and practitioners from IAPT services located in Northern England delivering low intensity interventions. Other key informants/stakeholders from any IAPT services.
How? The research project will be conducted in three phases over 18 months. The involvement per phase is described below:
All participants interested in taking part will be asked to complete a consent form and a few questionnaires (15 minutes).
-Phase 1: Interviews with IAPT patients and practitioners/key informants (up to 1 hour). Maximum total time involvement: 1 hour 15 minutes.
-Phase 2: Group workshop/meeting (up to 5 hours) to co-produce a transdiagnostic relapse prevention toolkit for IAPT. Maximum total time involvement: 5 hours 15 minutes.
-Phase 3: Group meeting (up to 3 hours) to review and finalise the transdiagnostic relapse prevention toolkit developed in Phase 2. Maximum of total time involvement: 3 hours 15 minutes.
This research project is funded by the NIHR RfPB.
Results Summary
Aims
To understand and co-develop with patients and professionals a toolkit to maintain wellbeing following talking therapies, improving their longer-term success and reducing service burden.
Methods
Phase 1: We interviewed patients and professionals to understand what helps or deters to maintain a good sense of wellbeing after completing guided-self-help. Also, we reviewed the literature to know what resources and interventions were available to maintain good wellbeing following guided-self-help.
Phase 2: We combined learning from the literature and the interviews to produce recommendations supporting long-term wellbeing. Patients and professionals discussed and voted on these recommendations. Recommendations rated as appropriate and necessary across patients and professionals were ranked to identify priorities.
Phase 3: Recommendations rated as appropriate and necessary were discussed further to identify the most helpful methods for dissemination and implementation.
Findings
A need for a toolkit supporting wellbeing to maintain recovery and prevent relapse following guided self-help in talking therapies was identified as a priority across patients and professionals. A total of 24 recommendations were agreed to be included into the toolkit. The recommendations targeted different levels, including patients (e.g., monitoring mood), services (e.g., collaboration with local services), training for practitioners before and after qualification, and commissioner/policy level (e.g., time and resources).
Patient and Public Involvement
The PPI co-applicant and a PPI advisory group of 6 people contributed to all stages of the research project.
Dissemination, outputs and impact
Lay summaries, social media, academic articles and presentations at conferences.
Conclusion and future plans
Staying well and preventing deterioration over time will improve patient outcomes and reduce likelihood of mental health relapse and other health inequalities. It also reduces pressure on the system, with people not returning to services, including an ever-growing waiting list for TT.
We plan to seek funding to implement and test the usefulness of the developed toolkit.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0109
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion