Study Background
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent disorders that affect a significant portion of the global population. A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2022 evaluated the effectiveness of Anxiety UK’s psychological therapy service, comparing it with the results of the NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program during the same period (2019-2020).
Access to high-quality psychological therapies is a key factor in treating anxiety and depression disorders. While the NHS has implemented the IAPT program to improve access to evidence-based therapies, demand continues to exceed the system’s capacity. In this context, organizations such as Anxiety UK offer alternative treatments for those who cannot access NHS services.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from 957 clients who completed at least two therapy sessions with Anxiety UK-approved therapists. These results were compared with data reported by the NHS IAPT for the same period. Validated measures were used to assess anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9), applied in the first and last therapy session. The main indicators evaluated were:
- Caseness: Percentage of clients presenting clinically significant levels of anxiety and/or depression at the start of therapy.
- Recovery rate: Percentage of clients who no longer met clinical criteria for anxiety and/or depression at the end of therapy.
- Reliable improvement: Significant reduction in symptoms without an increase in another domain.
- Reliable recovery: Combination of the previous criteria.
Key Findings
Higher effectiveness of Anxiety UK compared to IAPT
The results showed that Anxiety UK clients had better outcomes than IAPT clients across all indicators:
- Anxiety UK had a recovery rate of 62.4%, exceeding the 51.1% of IAPT.
- Reliable improvement was higher in Anxiety UK (70.8%) compared to IAPT (67.0%).
- Reliable recovery was also greater in Anxiety UK (58.0% vs. 48.5% in IAPT).
Significant reduction in anxiety and depression
Anxiety and depression symptoms significantly decreased after therapy:
- The average GAD-7 score decreased from 13.00 (moderate) in the first session to 6.20 (mild) in the last session.
- The average PHQ-9 score dropped from 12.30 (moderate) to 6.22 (mild).
Effectiveness of different types of therapy
The study compared the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) produced the greatest reduction in anxiety.
- No significant differences were found in depression reduction between CBT, counseling, and hypnotherapy.
More sessions, better results
A positive correlation was found between the number of attended sessions and the reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms.
- Anxiety UK clients attended an average of 8.53 sessions, compared to 6.9 sessions in IAPT.
- The greater the number of sessions, the greater the reduction in symptoms.
Clinical Implications
The findings suggest that psychological services provided by Anxiety UK can be an effective and even superior alternative to public programs, particularly in terms of flexibility and clinical outcomes. The ability to offer a higher number of sessions and different therapy modalities (in-person, telephone, online) appears to be a key factor in treatment success.
The study highlights the need to include external organizations in the design and provision of mental health services to maximize the reach and effectiveness of anxiety and depression treatments.
Anxiety UK’s therapy model not only exceeds the effectiveness standards set by NHS IAPT but also demonstrates the importance of making mental health services more flexible to better meet patients' needs. The results support the integration of alternative therapies and greater personalization in the duration and type of treatment offered to each individual.