Can a brief accessible CBT programme in schools improve the mental health of 16–18-year-olds? Clinical and cost-effectiveness of a cluster randomised controlled trial in Brief Educational Workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Can a brief accessible CBT programme in schools improve the mental health of 16–18-year-olds? Clinical and cost-effectiveness of a cluster randomised controlled trial in Brief Educational Workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST)

AU - Brown, June

AU - Byford, Sarah

AU - James, Kirsty

AU - Carter, Ben

AU - Shearer, James

AU - Lisk, Steve

AU - Day, Crispin

AU - Sclare, Irene

AU - Stallard, Paul

AU - Deighton, J

AU - Saunders, David

AU - Yarrum, Jynna

AU - Fonagy, Peter

AU - Weaver, Tim

AU - Evans, Claire

PY - 2024/3/21

Y1 - 2024/3/21

N2 - Background Depression and anxiety are increasingly prevalent in adolescents. BESST investigated the effectiveness of a brief accessible stress workshop programme for 16–18-year-olds. Methods An England-wide multi-centre cluster randomised controlled single-blinded trial to evaluate clinical-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a brief CBT workshop (DISCOVER) compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU)(1:1). We planned to enrol 60 schools and 900 adolescents, using a self-referral system to recruit participants. The primary outcome was depression symptoms (MFQ) at 6-month follow-up. Cost-effectiveness, taking a National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services perspective was explored using quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The ISRCTN registration was 90912799. Findings Between 4th October 2021 and 10th November 2022, 900 adolescents at 57 schools were enrolled, before randomisation of schools. The DISCOVER arm included 443 participants (295 female (67%)) and TAU included 457(346 female (76%)). The ITT analysis included 415 and 439 adolescents (DISCOVER: TAU). The primary analysis found an adjusted mean difference in MFQ of -2.06 (Cohen’s effect=-0·17; 95% CI –0.27 to -0.06; p=0·0019), indicating a clinical effect in the DISCOVER arm. With an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £15,387 per QALY, the probability of DISCOVER being cost-effective compared to TAU at £20,000-£30,000 per QALY threshold ranged from 61% to 78%. In a pre-specified subgroup analysis for depressed adolescents at baseline (>27 MFQ), we found a larger clinical effect (Cohen’s effect=-0.52; 95% CI -0.86 to -0.17; p=0·0033) and a lower ICER of £5,255 per QALY with a probability of DISCOVER being cost-effective compared to TAU of between 89% and 95%. Adverse events (serious adverse events) reported 11 (2) compared to 16 (2) in the DISCOVER and TAU arms. Interpretation The DISCOVER programme was both clinically-effective in reducing symptoms of depression and cost-effective. This intervention could be utilised as an early intervention by the NHS in schools. Funding: NIHR HTA (NIHR127951).

AB - Background Depression and anxiety are increasingly prevalent in adolescents. BESST investigated the effectiveness of a brief accessible stress workshop programme for 16–18-year-olds. Methods An England-wide multi-centre cluster randomised controlled single-blinded trial to evaluate clinical-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a brief CBT workshop (DISCOVER) compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU)(1:1). We planned to enrol 60 schools and 900 adolescents, using a self-referral system to recruit participants. The primary outcome was depression symptoms (MFQ) at 6-month follow-up. Cost-effectiveness, taking a National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services perspective was explored using quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The ISRCTN registration was 90912799. Findings Between 4th October 2021 and 10th November 2022, 900 adolescents at 57 schools were enrolled, before randomisation of schools. The DISCOVER arm included 443 participants (295 female (67%)) and TAU included 457(346 female (76%)). The ITT analysis included 415 and 439 adolescents (DISCOVER: TAU). The primary analysis found an adjusted mean difference in MFQ of -2.06 (Cohen’s effect=-0·17; 95% CI –0.27 to -0.06; p=0·0019), indicating a clinical effect in the DISCOVER arm. With an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £15,387 per QALY, the probability of DISCOVER being cost-effective compared to TAU at £20,000-£30,000 per QALY threshold ranged from 61% to 78%. In a pre-specified subgroup analysis for depressed adolescents at baseline (>27 MFQ), we found a larger clinical effect (Cohen’s effect=-0.52; 95% CI -0.86 to -0.17; p=0·0033) and a lower ICER of £5,255 per QALY with a probability of DISCOVER being cost-effective compared to TAU of between 89% and 95%. Adverse events (serious adverse events) reported 11 (2) compared to 16 (2) in the DISCOVER and TAU arms. Interpretation The DISCOVER programme was both clinically-effective in reducing symptoms of depression and cost-effective. This intervention could be utilised as an early intervention by the NHS in schools. Funding: NIHR HTA (NIHR127951).

M3 - Article

SN - 2215-0366

JO - The Lancet Psychiatry

JF - The Lancet Psychiatry

ER -