Pragmatic implementation of low-intensity psychological treatment for children and young people: the reality

Anna Roach; Isabella Stokes; Katie McDonnell; Helen  Griffiths; Vicki Curry; Isobel Heyman; Sonia Balakrishnan; Xhorxhina Ndoci; Sophie Bennett; Roz Shafran

doi:10.1017/S1352465824000390

Pragmatic implementation of low-intensity psychological treatment for children and young people: the reality

Anna Roach, Isabella Stokes, Katie McDonnell, Helen Griffiths, Vicki Curry, Isobel Heyman, Sonia Balakrishnan, Xhorxhina Ndoci, Sophie Bennett, Roz Shafran

Psychology

UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background and aims: Low-intensity psychological interventions are effective for children and young people (CYP) with mental health difficulties and can help bridge the demand-capacity gap. Despite increasing awareness, training and use of low-intensity psychological interventions, it is not yet understood what is being implemented in clinical practice in the UK and the associated evidence base. Method: This paper presents two studies; first, a national survey (n=102) of practitioners to identify low-intensity psychological interventions currently delivered in practice and second, an exploration of the availability and the strength of empirical support (characterised as 'gold', 'silver' and 'bronze') of low-intensity CBT interventions for CYP. Results: The first study found a wide variety of interventions being used across different services; 101/102 respondents reported using routine outcome measures. The second study identified 44 different low-intensity interventions, 28 of which were rated as having gold empirical support. However, only 13 of the gold interventions were considered accessible for practitioners and only two were reported being used in routine practice. Conclusion: These findings highlight that these interventions have been developed and empirically tested, but many are not easily accessible, highlighting the 'research-practice' gap in the provision of low-intensity interventions. There is a need for an increase in standardisation of care and accessibility of gold interventions. This paper hopes to begin the process of creating a hub of low-intensity interventions that are accessible and empirically supported to improve equity of access and outcomes of low-intensity psychological interventions for CYP.

Original language	English
Journal	Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465824000390
Publication status	Published - 6 Nov 2024

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title = "Pragmatic implementation of low-intensity psychological treatment for children and young people: the reality",

abstract = "Background and aims: Low-intensity psychological interventions are effective for children and young people (CYP) with mental health difficulties and can help bridge the demand-capacity gap. Despite increasing awareness, training and use of low-intensity psychological interventions, it is not yet understood what is being implemented in clinical practice in the UK and the associated evidence base. Method: This paper presents two studies; first, a national survey (n=102) of practitioners to identify low-intensity psychological interventions currently delivered in practice and second, an exploration of the availability and the strength of empirical support (characterised as 'gold', 'silver' and 'bronze') of low-intensity CBT interventions for CYP. Results: The first study found a wide variety of interventions being used across different services; 101/102 respondents reported using routine outcome measures. The second study identified 44 different low-intensity interventions, 28 of which were rated as having gold empirical support. However, only 13 of the gold interventions were considered accessible for practitioners and only two were reported being used in routine practice. Conclusion: These findings highlight that these interventions have been developed and empirically tested, but many are not easily accessible, highlighting the 'research-practice' gap in the provision of low-intensity interventions. There is a need for an increase in standardisation of care and accessibility of gold interventions. This paper hopes to begin the process of creating a hub of low-intensity interventions that are accessible and empirically supported to improve equity of access and outcomes of low-intensity psychological interventions for CYP.",

author = "Anna Roach and Isabella Stokes and Katie McDonnell and Helen Griffiths and Vicki Curry and Isobel Heyman and Sonia Balakrishnan and Xhorxhina Ndoci and Sophie Bennett and Roz Shafran",

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AU - Roach, Anna

AU - Stokes, Isabella

AU - McDonnell, Katie

AU - Griffiths, Helen

AU - Curry, Vicki

AU - Heyman, Isobel

AU - Balakrishnan, Sonia

AU - Ndoci, Xhorxhina

AU - Bennett, Sophie

AU - Shafran, Roz

PY - 2024/11/6

Y1 - 2024/11/6

N2 - Background and aims: Low-intensity psychological interventions are effective for children and young people (CYP) with mental health difficulties and can help bridge the demand-capacity gap. Despite increasing awareness, training and use of low-intensity psychological interventions, it is not yet understood what is being implemented in clinical practice in the UK and the associated evidence base. Method: This paper presents two studies; first, a national survey (n=102) of practitioners to identify low-intensity psychological interventions currently delivered in practice and second, an exploration of the availability and the strength of empirical support (characterised as 'gold', 'silver' and 'bronze') of low-intensity CBT interventions for CYP. Results: The first study found a wide variety of interventions being used across different services; 101/102 respondents reported using routine outcome measures. The second study identified 44 different low-intensity interventions, 28 of which were rated as having gold empirical support. However, only 13 of the gold interventions were considered accessible for practitioners and only two were reported being used in routine practice. Conclusion: These findings highlight that these interventions have been developed and empirically tested, but many are not easily accessible, highlighting the 'research-practice' gap in the provision of low-intensity interventions. There is a need for an increase in standardisation of care and accessibility of gold interventions. This paper hopes to begin the process of creating a hub of low-intensity interventions that are accessible and empirically supported to improve equity of access and outcomes of low-intensity psychological interventions for CYP.

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Pragmatic implementation of low-intensity psychological treatment for children and young people: the reality

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