People with long-term conditions (LTCs), such as diabetes, COPD and coronary heart disease, are twice as likely as other adults to suffer from depression and/or anxiety disorders. With growing numbers suffering with one or more LTC, it is imperative that services are able to offer effective, adapted treatments to this patient group.
Over the past few years, a number of innovative treatment protocols have been disseminated across the Oxford AHSN region. These include:
- Cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia
- Depression and diabetes integrated care projects
- Heart2Heart integrated care project
- COPD integrated care project
In 2016, all IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) services in the Thames Valley were awarded funding to become ‘early implementer’ sites as part of the national Integrated IAPT (IAPT-LTC) expansion programme to set up new, integrated and co-located services for people suffering with LTCs and co-morbid anxiety/depression. An independent evaluation published in December 2018 found this approach led to health improvements and NHS savings.
The A&D Network members continue to work together to provide robust evaluation of these new services and improved treatment protocols and service provision models.