Activity therapy better than CBT?
Monday July 25th, 2016
A new psychological treatment that helps people with depression find activities is cheaper than the main talking therapy, CBT, - and equally effective, according to a major British study.
Therapists
who undertake behavioural activation encourage patients to find positive
experiences - often using them to replace harmful behaviour such as alcohol
abuse.
The latest study involved some 440 adults and was coordinated by Exeter University and using researchers in York, King's College, London and at the Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
According to the research, reported in The Lancet, behavioural activation is 20% cheaper than CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy. This is mainly based on behavioural therapists earning less than CBT therapists.
Patients were randomly assigned to one treatment or the other. Researchers found that after periods of six, 12 and 18 months the effects of both therapies were similar.
After a year, about two-thirds of patients in both groups reported a halving of their symptoms of depression. There were also similar numbers of depression free days and diagnoses of anxiety.
Researcher Professor David Richards, from the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Effectively treating depression at low cost is a global priority.
"Our finding is the most robust evidence yet that Behavioural Activation is just as effective as CBT, meaning an effective workforce could be trained much more easily and cheaply without any compromise on the high level of quality.
"This is an exciting prospect for reducing waiting times and improving access to high-quality depression therapy worldwide, and offers hope for countries who are currently struggling with the impact of depression on the health of their peoples and economies."
The Royal College of GPs said it would now be considering making greater use of behavioural activation.
Dr Liz England, the college's mental health lead, said: “Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be beneficial to our patients with mental health problems, but evidence suggests that Behavioural Action Treatment is also effective.
"Given that, as this study suggests, behavioural activation is more cost-effective, it is definitely something we should explore commissioning further, especially at a time when the health service is facing such intense financial pressure."
Lancet 23 July 2016 [abstract]
Tags: Fitness | Mental Health | UK News
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