Variation in referral and access to new psychological therapy services by age: an empirical quantitative study
Open accessAbstract
Background: Older people with common mental health problems (CMHPs) are known to have reduced rates of referral to psychological therapy. Aim: To assess referral rates to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, contact with a therapist, and clinical outcome by age. Design and setting: Empirical research study using patient episodes of care from South West of England IAPT services. Method: By analysing 82 513 episodes of care (2010–2011), referral rates and clinical improvement were compared with both total population and estimated prevalence in each age group using IAPT data. Probable recovery of those completing treatment was calculated for each group. Results: Estimated prevalence of CMHPs peaks in 45–49-year-olds (20.59% of population). The proportions of patients identified with CMHPs being referred peaks at 20–24 years (22.95%) and reduces with increase in age thereafter to 6.00% for 70–74-year-olds. Once referred, the proportion of those attending first treatment increases with age between 20 years (57.34%) and 64 years (76.97%). In addition, the percentage of those having a clinical improvement gradually increases from the age of 18 years (12.94%) to 69 years (20.74%). Conclusion: Younger adults are more readily referred to IAPT services. However, as a proportion of those referred, probabilities of attending once, attending more than once, and clinical improvement increase with age. It is uncertain whether optimum levels of referral have been reached for young adults. It is important to establish whether changes to service configuration, treatment options, and GP behaviour can increase referrals for middle-aged and older adults.
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Pettit et al. [47] report that older adults are still under-represented in IAPT services.
“Pettit et al. [47] report that older adults are still under-represented in IAPT services”
From Can support workers from AgeUK deliver an intervention to support older people with anxiety and depression? A qualitative evaluation (2019) · cites this paper as Pettit et al. [47]
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- Authors
- Pettit, S., Qureshi, A., Lee, W., Stirzaker, A., Gibson, A., Henley, W., & Byng, R.
- Affiliations
- University of West London (GB)
- Edge Hill University (GB)
- Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (GB)
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (GB)
- University of Plymouth (GB)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Venue
- British Journal of General Practice
- Published
- 2017-06-05
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 660
- Pages
- e453-e459
- ISSN
- 0960-1643 (ISSN-L)
- 1478-5242
- PMC
- PMC5565877
- OpenAlex
- W2621832144
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 8.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of General Practice (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UWL Repository (University of West London) (acceptedVersion)
- PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion)
- Edge Hill University (submittedVersion)
- Edge Hill University Research Information Repository (Edge Hill University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Keywords
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, age differences, older adults, common mental disorders, treatment attendance, clinical outcomes, young adults, access to mental health care
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Mental Disorders, England, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Health Services Research, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Referral and Consultation, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Age Distribution, Empirical Research, Healthcare Disparities, Young Adult
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