Public Health

Current awareness updates

How has cognitive behaviour therapy been adapted for adolescents with comorbid depression and chronic illness? A scoping review.[Abstract]
Morey A. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2021;26(3):252-264.
[BACKGROUND: Depression becomes increasingly common in adolescence. Around 10%-20% of adolescents have a chronic illness, and they are more likely to experience depression. There is emerging evidence for cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) interventions to treat depression in adolescents with chronic illnesses, yet no review has been undertaken of how these CBT interventions are delivered in practice.]

The best terminology to describe self-harm: “There is more that unites us than divides us”.
The Mental Elf; 2021.
[Angharad de Cates reviews a recent study which examined international definitions of English-language terms for suicidal and self-harm behaviours.]

Education, schooling and health summary.
Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England; 2021.
[Summary of the existing evidence of the health and wellbeing benefits of school-age education. This paper aims to summarise the existing evidence of the health and wellbeing benefits of school-age education, including the wider impacts on mental and physical health and wellbeing of being in school and the observed impacts of the loss of education in the last 18 months.]

Does the IAPT self-referral process work for people living in poverty?
The Mental Elf; 2021.
[In her debut blog, Alice Potter reviews a qualitative study exploring different perspectives on the accessibility of current IAPT self-referral processes for people with mental health problems living in poverty.]

STI rates remain a concern despite fall in 2020.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
[New data from Public Health England (PHE) reveal that diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) decreased in 2020 by 32% compared to 2019.]

Promotional material: Flu immunisation for social care staff.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
[Leaflets for social care workers and personal care assistants to support the annual flu programme.]

Dismissed for too long: recommendations to improve migraine care in the UK.
The Migraine Trust; 2021.
[This report found a wide range of issues with migraine health care, including slow or no diagnosis and lack of access to specialist care. It sets out the action needed from the government, health care systems and other organisations to give everyone living with migraine in the UK the support they need.]




Library Bulletin

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

The current bulletin for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, produced by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, is now available to view and download here

For support accessing any of the articles within the bulletin please contact: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

Digital CBT and improving mental health

Treating insomnia

Insomnia is the UK’s most common health complaint, and if left untreated can cause more serious mental health problems. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. The issue is that a rise in cases leads to longer waiting lists, or patients self medicating.

However digital CBT may be the answer. One intervention – Sleepio – provides digital CBT for insomnia from the click of a button. Sleepio is highly evidence-based and is backed by 12 Randomised Controlled Trials.

In a recent project, results were promising, showing high levels of engagement with patients, a high recovery rate and improvements in mental health and wellbeing, along with a reduced cost to the NHS.

To find out more and read their case study click here.

NHS staff can also access the resource for free during the pandemic. Sign up here.

Systematic Review

Cognitive behaviour therapy for health anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical efficacy and health economic outcomes

This systematic review looked at CBT and internet-based CBT (ICBT) use in helping to reduce health anxiety.  The review found that CBT is a highly efficacious and probably cost-effective treatment for health anxiety.  The authore recommend that ICBT is implemented more widely, and that health economic outcomes and ways of increasing response and remission rates are explored further.

Read more here

Exploring The Feasibility And Acceptability Of Using Tele-Therapy For UK Veterans With PTSD

Combat Stress, September 2018
Combat Stress report on a year-long tele-therapy pilot study, funded by The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) and undertaken by Combat Stress, has shown it to be an accessible, flexible and cost-effective approach to delivering trauma-focused therapies. Tele-therapy provides therapy through a live video connection, over the internet such as Skype. The purpose was to trial an alternative type of therapy to overcome issues that prevent veterans from seeking help.
Click here to view the report.