My independent audit of IAPT suggests a 10% recovery rate https://www.dropbox.com/s/flvxtq2jyhmn6i1/IAPT%20The%20Need%20for%20Radical%20Reform.pdf?dl=0.
A year ago the National Audit Office invited submissions for its investigation into IAPT, and has to date decided not to make its’ conclusions public. Whither transparency and the use of public funds? They failed to advise that gardening might be a better use of the public purse, then at least we would get tomatoes.
Dr Mike Scott
This is the title of James Binnie’s commentary on my paper, he adds that my findings of a 10% recovery rate in IAPT are ‘quite shocking’. His paper and mine are available by clicking the following links:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318769323
https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318755264
Commentaries and my commentary on the commentaries will be available in a Special Issue
of the Journal of Health Psychology this Summer. It’s great to get some public debate, it has been difficult because many are not in a position to voice their concerns openly.
Dr Mike Scott
IAPT base treatment on problem descriptors not standardised diagnosis, resulting in a gross failure to identify appropriate treatment targets. A recent study by Thomlison et al (2017) indicated 4 out of 5 PTSD cases were missed. There is no evidence that identification of other disorders is any more reliable Scott (2018) see earlier post (link below)
In the Thomlinson et al study (2017) three quarters of IAPT clients were in low intensity groups, conducted without reference to any explicit evidence based protocol. This looks like playing a numbers game with groups.
Thomlinson et al (2017) Comorbidity between PTSD and anxiety and depression: Implications for IAPT Services. Archives of Depression and Anxiety
Scott, M.J (2018) IAPT – The Need for Radical Reform Journal of Health Psychology https://connection.sagepub.com/blog/psychology/2018/02/07/on-sage-insight-improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-iapt-the-need-for-radical-reform/.
Dr Mike Scott