The effectiveness and acceptability of a computerised cognitive behavioural therapy programme and the psychometric properties of its service user generated outcome measure

Abstract

Background Physical and psychological ill-health is strongly interlinked. Poor physical health can amplify psychological symptoms; whilst disabling physical symptomology and illnesses have been improved by the treatment of depression and/or anxiety. Currently, demand outstrips the supply' of psychological treatments for common mental health problems. This is mainly due to the lack' of trained therapists in the UK. Effective and less therapist-intensive interventions are required. The effic~cy of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) has been demonstrated in routine primary care. However, service users in secondary care and those with physical and psychological co-morbidities have frequently been excluded from these studies. Further research, particularly qualitative research, focusing on service tisers' satisfaction with CCBT has also been called for by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) reviewers. Concurrently, very little knowledge exists on what problems users bring to work on in CCBT . sessions; whilst service user empowerment perspectives call for an increase in supported selfhelp interventions and 'patient as expert' quality of life outcome measures in order to improve accessibility to services and actively involve service users in the delivery of their care. . . The first reported piece of research was a naturalistic non-randomised study carried out to establish the effectiveness and acceptability of a CCBT programme, Beating the Blues, as an intervention for anxiety and depression in an NHS CBT specialist centre. The study also sought to identify whether physical co-morbidities altered the nature of the intervention's impact on clinical outcomes. The following two studies evaluated the psychometric properties alan electronic service user generated Subjective Units of Distress (SUDS) measure. Five hundred and ninety service users were included in the study. Three groups, a control group, a standard intervention group, and a physical co~morbidity intervention group, were . compared on pre- and post-BOI-II scores. The two intervention groups were also compared on pre- and post-BAI scores. Qualitative feedback and satisfaction rating scores were analysed to establish the acceptability of Beating the Blues.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo