Development and Evaluation of Cognitive Analytic Guided Self-Help (CAT-SH) for Use in IAPT Services.
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of treatment plurality at step 2 of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. This project therefore sought to develop and pilot a cognitive analytic informed guided self-help treatment for mild-to-moderate anxiety for delivery by Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs).


METHODS
Medical Research Council treatment development guidelines were used. Phase I included development of the six-session treatment manual using practice guidelines, small-scale modelling (n = 3) and indicated manual iterations. Phase II consisted of a mixed methods case series design (n = 11) to index feasibility, uptake and clinical outcomes.


RESULTS
Cognitive analytic guided self-help (CAT-SH) met established quality parameters for guided self-help. A high treatment completion rate was observed, with 10/11 patients who attended the first treatment session subsequently completing full treatment. Six out of ten patients completing full treatment met reliable recovery criteria at follow-up. Effect sizes and recovery rates equate with extant PWP outcome benchmarks. Practitioner feedback indicated that delivery of CAT-SH was feasible.


CONCLUSIONS
CAT-SH shows promise as a low-intensity treatment for anxiety, and so further, larger and more controlled evaluations are indicated.
University of Sheffield.
Jo
J
Meadows
Centre for Psychological Services Research,University of Sheffield,UK and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
Stephen
S
Kellett
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D019985:Benchmarking; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Cognitive analytic therapy; IAPT; feasibility; outcome; psychoeducation