NICE recommend digital CBT for young people with mild depression

pharmafile | January 23, 2019 | News story | Research and Development |  CBT, Digital CBT, NHS, psychology, psychotherapy 

Britain’s cost effectiveness body NICE has recommended digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for children with mild depression as a first line treatment.

Digital CBT is delivered on tablets, computers and mobile phones. The easily accessible technology can be made readily available thus allowing children and young people quicker access to psychological help.

The treatment is recommended for children or young people, age five to eighteen, with continuing symptoms of mild depression who do not have other significant health conditions or suicidal thoughts.

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Paul Chrisp, director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE, said, “In this update to our depression in children guideline, we reviewed evidence for the most effective psychological interventions for children and young people with depression. The guideline update emphasises the importance of a child or young person’s personal choice when receiving treatment for depression.

“We want to ensure children are offered a range of therapies to suit their needs and individual preferences are placed at the heart of their care. The evidence showed digital CBT and group therapy were most effective at reducing depressive symptoms and we have recommend these as first-line options for children and young people with mild depression.”

The recommendation coincides with government initiatives aimed at modernising and digitising the NHS.

Louis Goss

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