title: "Stress Control" as a Large Group Psychoeducational Intervention at Step 2 of IAPT Services: Acceptability of the Approach and Moderators of Effectiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  "Stress Control" (SC) has been adopted as a core intervention in step 2 of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, but contemporary evidence of effectiveness has lagged behind service uptake.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of SC and to explore moderators of outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of acceptability (via attendance rates) and effectiveness (via IAPT minimum dataset).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SC was well tolerated with 73.3% of all patients and 75.4% of "clinical cases" attending three or more sessions. Of the 546 "clinical cases" attending SC and not in receipt of other interventions, 37% moved to recovery. Attendance improved outcome; for those patients attending all SC sessions the recovery rate rose to 59.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SC appears a well-tolerated and effective intervention that enables large numbers to gain access to treatment in an organizationally efficient manner. Attendance is important in facilitating SC outcomes and research evaluating attendance interventions are needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Sheffield,UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust and Centre for Psychological Services Research,University of Sheffield,UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kellett
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust and University of Sheffield,UK.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donohoe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy
keywords: IAPT stepped care; PWP; Stress control; psychoeducation