Digitising Creative Psychological Therapy

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a need to adapt and develop psychological interventions that address the mental health of those in need. As a result, Arts for the Blues (A4B), an evidence-based creative group psychotherapy model, originally developed for in-person delivery to address the needs of clients with depression, was transformed into a remote therapy option. This chapter presents an overview of plans and steps so far and offers activities used online during a public workshop with 24 participants and training sessions with 70 psychotherapists (qualified and trainee). Concerns around safety, group sizes, time, and guidance/support are discussed, while the value of online work for clients with depression (adults and children) are explored. It is concluded that even when in-person delivery is possible, online versions will be useful since they encourage a wider reach and make interventions more accessible.

Online Therapy in COVID-19: What are the Influences of Online Therapy for Depression Among Adolescents?

The pandemic COVID-19 spread over the world in 2020 and pushed almost everything online, including psychological therapy. Online therapy is a way for therapists or clients who are not able to have the face-to-face sessions, use technological tools like zoom, facetime, or chat to have the treatment instead. In this literature review, the author would talk about what is online therapy and how it works. Then, he would talk about online therapy in the COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, as online therapy depends on the internet a lot, some studies mention that adolescents tend to like this way more, the author would talk about the influence of online therapy on depression among adolescents.

Can pharmacological, psychological and non-invasive brain stimulation interventions prevent depression after stroke? A cochrane review summary with commentary

BACKGROUND: Depression is very common in patients after a stroke and it can impact recovery. OBJECTIVE: The Cochrane Review aimed to determine whether psychological therapy, pharmacological interventions, non-invasive brain stimulation, or their combination can prevent depression after stroke. METHODS: The population addressed were patients who suffered from a stroke and had no previous diagnosis of depressive disorders. Studies comparing pharmacological intervention to placebo, psychological therapy to usual care, and non-invasive brain stimulation to sham stimulation or usual care were included. RESULTS: Outcome information was available for nine pharmacological and two psychological trials, showing favorable treatment effects. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence suggests that pharmacological interventions and psychological therapy may prevent depression and improve mood after stroke. Although, the current evidence is of very low quality resulting in serious uncertainties about the estimates of effect observed.

Measurement-Based and Data-Informed Psychological Therapy

Outcome measurement in the field of psychotherapy has developed considerably in the last decade. This review discusses key issues related to outcome measurement, modeling, and implementation of data-informed and measurement-based psychological therapy. First, an overview is provided, covering the rationale of outcome measurement by acknowledging some of the limitations of clinical judgment. Second, different models of outcome measurement are discussed, including pre–post, session-by-session, and higher-resolution intensive outcome assessments. Third, important concepts related to modeling patterns of change are addressed, including early response, dose–response, and nonlinear change. Furthermore, rational and empirical decision tools are discussed as the foundation for measurement-based therapy. Fourth, examples of clinical applications are presented, which show great promise to support the personalization of therapy and to prevent treatment failure. Finally, we build on continuous outcome measurement as the basis for a broader understanding of clinical concepts and data-driven clinical practice in the future. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Volume 18 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Predicting treatment outcomes in improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT) services

Purpose Given the considerable variation in treatment effectiveness observed across Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services, the purpose of this study is to explore client- and service-related variables that predict successful treatment outcomes and clients’ dropout. Clinician-rated clients’ motivation to change was also explored as a potential predictor for both outcome variables. Design/methodology/approach A convenience sample of 1,135 (F = 752; Mage = 39.4) was collected from three IAPT services in the North West of England. The study adopts a quasi-experimental, observational design. The analysis involves the description of patients’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and the development of three outcome prediction models, using hierarchical logistic regression. Findings After adjusting for confounders, employment status and motivation to change as rated by clinicians were predictive of both recovery and reliable improvement. The higher number of IAPT re-referrals was negatively associated with recovery and positively with dropouts. Clients who indicated low motivation to change and received low intensity treatment at their last session presented a higher likelihood to dropout. Research limitations/implications Given that the evaluation of clients’ motivation to change was solely reliant on clinical judgement, as no validated measure was used, further robust research is recommended to draw sensible conclusions. Originality/value This is the first study evaluating clinician-rated motivation to change as a significant predictor of treatment outcomes and dropouts within the IAPT setting. Further research implications are discussed.