Psychological therapies in primary care: a progress report.

Abstract

In the February 2013 issue of the BJGP , we gave an overview of the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in primary care, arguing that access to CBT and other psychological services such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) could be improved.1 We also suggested that further research into what works, for whom, and in what circumstances would be invaluable in order to make optimum use of available resources. Eighteen months on, we offer a progress report on the provision of psychological therapies in primary care in the UK. In January 2014, the Department of Health (DoH) in England produced the document Closing the Gap , which outlined its 25 key priorities in mental health.2 The document aims to bridge the gap between the long-term ambitions set out in the government’s mental health strategy3 and shorter-term action, such as how changes in local service planning and delivery will make a difference to people with mental health problems in the next 2 or 3 years. The priorities are laudable and include a pledge by the DoH to ‘lead an information revolution around mental health and wellbeing’ and to ‘tackle inequalities around access to mental health services’. In relation to psychological therapies, there is a commitment to increase the number of people accessing psychological therapies each year from 600 000 to 900 000, as a result of a further £450 million investment into the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies …