title: Staff and patient experience of improving access to psychological therapy group interventions for anxiety and depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT) initiative aims to provide widespread evidence-based psychological treatments for common mental health problems in the UK. Individual services have implemented National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines in various ways; some provide group-based therapy, whilst others do not.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigates how patients and staff experience group-based therapy, what they find helpful and where improvements can be made.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five semi-structured interviews were undertaken with staff and patients in three IAPT services. Framework analysis was used to analyse comments relating to patient experience in group-based treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that patients can feel isolated with their symptoms and group-based interventions can normalise the illness, reducing stress. Individuals experience benefits and, in some cases, difficulties, in different ways. Some patients hear of the strategies that others have found useful, and observe others' progress, which may bring hope for their own recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IAPT group-based interventions appear to aid recovery in different ways to one-to-one therapy, by normalising mental illness and increasing social contact. Greater understanding of the factors operating in group-based interventions might increase attendance and recovery facilitated by IAPT group interventions.
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School , University of Plymouth , Plymouth , UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Newbold
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byng
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000592:standards*