UCL co-led research to receive £1.6 million to improve mental health treatment

Innovative research to assess the effectiveness of digital and talking therapies for anxiety and depression has been given a £1.6 million boost. 

The research, led by UCL and seven partner organisations, aims to determine which treatments work best for whom, and whether they provide value for money. 

Every year, approximately 1.8 million people in England seek help through NHS Talking Therapies services. These services offer a range of treatment options, for example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) delivered in different ways—from traditional face-to-face sessions to digital programmes. However, more research is needed to understand how these different approaches compare in effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and if there are inequalities in outcomes. 

The funding supports two complementary studies:

• SilverCloud Target Trials (£1.1million from NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) and Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Real-World Evidence Programme): This project will compare the effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) to individual or group low-intensity CBT for treating anxiety or depression. The SilverCloud by Amwell iCBT programmes are currently used in approximately 72% of Talking Therapies services.
• Target Therapies Project (£500k from NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme): This study will evaluate various digital and talking therapies for anxiety and depression, more specifically conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), examining which interventions provide the most benefit that are also value for money.

Both projects involve a diverse group of collaborators, including UCL, the University of Sheffield, the McPin Foundation, North London NHS Foundation Trust, and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust. For the SilverCloud Target Trials, additional collaborators include representatives from Northumbria University, SilverCloud by Amwell, and Hardian Health. 

These projects aim to help healthcare professionals tailor treatments to individual patients more effectively. The research will also provide critical insights into the cost-effectiveness of different therapies, helping shape future NHS policies and resource allocation. 

Dr Rob Saunders, UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, said: “The need for access to readily available and effective therapies to support people with common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders has never been so great. Through the use of linked healthcare data, this project will help us learn more about which types of talking therapy options are most effective for patients that come to services.” 

Dr Joshua Buckman, UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, said: “The NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression programme in England has supported millions of patients with common mental health problems, but some people do not benefit as much as others. This project will provide the opportunity to examine the impact of Talking Therapies using real-world data collected by services to better understand why some people may not benefit as much and what we might be able to do to improve things for them”

Dr Matthew Franklin, Study Lead from the University of Sheffield, said: “It is inspiring to see that the NIHR is investing in much-needed mental health research, such as that represented by the Target Trials in Mental Health programme. 

“By leveraging existing NHS data, we can generate real-world evidence that leads to meaningful improvements in mental health care. These studies have the potential to make real change for public benefit.” 

Image credit: Pexels

Related

• Dr Rob Saunder's academic profile
• Dr Josh Buckman's academic profile