Open AccessOutcomes from a pilot psychological therapies service for UK military veterans
Author(s) -
Clarkson Paul,
Giebel Clarissa M.,
Challis David,
Duthie Paul,
Barrett Alan,
Lambert Helen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nursing open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.55
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2054-1058
DOI - 10.1002/nop2.57
Subject(s) - anxiety , depression (economics) , medicine , cohort , military personnel , psychiatry , cohort study , military service , social support , service member , physical therapy , psychology , psychotherapist , history , archaeology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
Aim To evaluate the outcomes of participants attending a psychological therapies service for military veterans. Background The UK Military Veterans’ Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service (North West) ( MV IAPT ) provided a clinical psychological therapies service for military veterans. Outcomes of depression, anxiety and social adjustment were assessed after treatment in the service's pilot phase. Design An observational, prospective cohort study examined changes in depression, anxiety and social adjustment during receipt of the service. Methods Changes in depression ( PHQ ‐9), anxiety ( GAD ‐7) and social adjustment ( WSAS ) were examined in 952 veterans referred over 20 months from September 2011. Data were collected using the IAPT clinical information system plus additional fields. Changes for patients who completed treatment, remained in treatment and dropped out were compared. Results Seven hundred and seven veterans received an initial assessment, from which 505 received two or more appointments. Of these, 156 completed treatments, 179 remained in treatment and 170 dropped out. The majority of veterans had been operationally deployed and were similar in risk characteristics to those in other military cohort studies. There were highly significant improvements on all measures ( p <.01), with completers improving more and having higher rates of recovery from depression and anxiety than those remaining and drop outs. Recovery rates compared favourably with evaluations of general IAPT services and also exceeded reported natural recovery rates.