NHS Talking Therapies Benefitting Working-Age Adults More Than Teens and Young Adults
NHS talking therapies give people access to science-based self-help interventions and psychotherapy
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A recent study has revealed that a type of psychotherapy offered by the NHS in England may be more beneficial for working-age adults compared to teens and young adults who are struggling with anxiety and depression.
Despite the fact that anxiety and depression often first manifest during adolescence and young adulthood, clinical trials focusing on psychotherapy have predominantly targeted working-age adults, according to Argyris Stringaris from University College London.
Initiated in 2008, the NHS talking therapies programme aimed to provide individuals with access to science-based self-help interventions and psychotherapy for anxiety and depression. This initiative has resulted in a wealth of data that researchers have analyzed to evaluate the outcomes of therapy for different age groups.
Stringaris and his team examined data from over 1.5 million individuals who underwent talking therapies between 2015 and 2019. The analysis revealed that individuals aged 25 to 65 experienced a greater improvement in symptom severity compared to those aged 16 to 24. Younger individuals were also less likely to achieve full recovery or show significant improvement after therapy.
Stringaris emphasized the importance of tailoring mental health services to better suit the needs of younger individuals. Factors such as the impact of social media and online dating on mental well-being, as well as higher rates of missed therapy sessions among young people, could contribute to the disparities observed in therapy outcomes.
David Clark from the University of Oxford highlighted the need for further investigation into these differences to improve the effectiveness of therapy for teens and young adults. He also emphasized the importance of considering the incremental benefit of therapy, especially during periods of significant life transitions for young individuals.
NHS England representative, Adrian Whittington, encouraged individuals struggling with anxiety and depression to seek support through the talking therapies programme, which provides assistance to over a million people annually.
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