E-therapies in England for stress, anxiety or depression: what is being used in the NHS? A survey of mental health services

Abstract

ObjectiveTo document the range of web and smartphone apps used and recommended for stress, anxiety or depression by the National Health Service (NHS) in England.DesignThe study was conducted using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and systematic website searches.Data sourcesData were collected via FOI requests to NHS services between 13 February 2015 and 31 March 2015, and searches conducted on NHS apps library websites between 26 March 2015 and 2 November 2015.Data collection/extraction methodsData were compiled from responses to: (1) FOI requests sent to all Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services and NHS Mental Health Trusts in England and (2) NHS apps library search results.ResultsA total of 61 (54.95%) out of the then 111 IAPT service providers responded, accounting for 191 IAPT services, and all 51 of the then NHS Mental Health Trusts responded. The results were that 13 different web apps and 35 different smartphone apps for depression, anxiety or stress were available through either referral services or the online NHS Apps Libraries. The apps used and recommended vary by area and by point of access (online library/IAPT/trust).ConclusionsFuture research is required to establish the evidence base for the apps that are being used in the NHS in England. There is a need for service provision to be based on evidence and established guidelines.

Factors affecting implementation of digital health interventions for people with psychosis or bipolar disorder, and their family and friends: a systematic review

“…9 Despite their potential, there have been widespread difficulties in integrating and implementing digital interventions into real-world clinical settings, an indication of the evidence-practice gap. 13,14 For example, despite evidence suggesting that it can be effective in treating depression and anxiety, 15,16 computerised CBT is not yet widely used in clinical practice, 17 and when it is 'prescribed', high drop-out rates have been reported. 18 There is a clear need for implementation research to drive our understanding of how to promote uptake and integration of evidence-based digital interventions.…”

Is There a Future for Therapists?

“…Finally, we are entering an era of increasingly sophisticated self-help services, making it possible for service users to engage in a range of evidence-based treatments without a therapist (Bennion et al 2017). In some counties, including the UK, the Netherlands and Australia, governments are actively funding and promoting self-help as either an adjunct or an alternative to therapist delivered mental health services.…”

Priming attachment security improves attitudes towards a range of therapies

“…Initiatives such as ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ in the UK reserve resource‐intensive treatment for the most severe cases, offering ‘low‐intensity’ therapies, such as book or web‐based self‐help and guided self‐help, first (Clark, ). Mobile phone apps for mental health are also now routinely recommended throughout the NHS (Bennion, Hardy, Moore, & Millings, ). This trend is also evident in specialized services, such as counselling services in Higher Education, where services are turning to alternatives to face‐to‐face therapy to meet increased demand (Broglia, Millings, & Barkham, ).…”