CFH2a KIT - Implementing Outcome Feedback Technology across NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services

Outcome feedback (OF) is a computerised technology that helps psychological therapists to monitor their patients’ response to treatment. This technology helps to assess patients’ progress using validated depression and anxiety measures, which are compared to clinical population norms derived from large clinical datasets. At each treatment session, patients whose symptoms are more severe than those of other similar cases at a similar stage of treatment are flagged up as “not on track” prompting therapists to identify and resolve obstacles to improvement in a timely way. A recently completed multi-site randomised controlled trial found that Outcome Feedback improved clinical outcomes and represented good value for money for the NHS. The Lancet Psychiatry journal has accepted this study for publication subject to revisions. The KIT fund will be used to develop online training to support large-scale implementation across primary care mental health services, thus maximising the impact of this evidence based technology.