The results from a new study published by UCL researchers indicate that talking therapy is less effective for people with depression or anxiety aged 16-24 than those aged 25-65
The study used data from 1.5 million people who had attended NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression services in England in 2015-2019, including over 300,000 people aged 16-24. Talking therapies offered by the NHS can include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), guided self-help, counselling or interpersonal therapy.
The researchers looked at differences in symptom severity changes following a course of talking therapy, using two commonly used measures (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale 7-item (GAD-7) scales), finding that improvements in symptoms were smaller for young adults than those aged 25-65.
People aged 16-24 years were around 25% less likely to meet the threshold for reliable recovery after having talking therapy, and 17% less likely to meet criteria for reliable improvement than those aged 25-65.
Senior author Professor Argyris Stringaris, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCL, said:
“Young people may find it harder to navigate services which have been set up for adults, and are more likely to miss sessions or stop attending altogether. Additionally, the late teens and early 20s are a point of transition for many people, which can involve plenty of stressful life events and changes that may make it more difficult to consistently attend. Working together with young people should help optimise the content of treatment and the ways in which it is delivered.
“Finally, young people may suffer from depression and anxiety problems that may differ somehow in their causes from those affecting adults; early onset depression could have different causes and may require different approaches to treatment. This is an area that requires a lot of new basic and clinical research.”
More information on this news is available from UCL News: NHS talking therapy is less effective for younger adults
The published paper is available to read on the Lancet Psychiatry: Effectiveness of psychological interventions for young adults versus working age adults: a retrospective cohort study in a national psychological treatment programme in England
The results have also featured in an article on New Scientist: NHS talking therapies seem to be less effective for younger adults
Image: Liza Summer