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Background <p>Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people with long-term health conditions, access to timely and effective treatment is often difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services for young people with long-term health conditions and their families at six paediatric healthcare settings in England.</p> Methods <p>This was a prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study. Young people up to 25 years old with a long-term health condition, and their families were eligible. The primary outcome was the change in the total difficulties score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire between baseline and 6 months. Interventions provided were standard evidence-based low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy, onward referral or signposting. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with services and cost.</p> Results <p>Accessing the drop-in services led to significant reductions in emotional and behavioural symptoms (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.39) and improved quality of life (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.44). Parental depression and anxiety significantly improved (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.30 and d = 0.34).</p> <p>The average waiting time for an initial assessment was 13.42 days. High levels of satisfaction were reported. The cost per patient was approximately half the estimated cost of a typical course of psychological therapy.</p> Conclusions <p>Drop-in mental health services are effective and acceptable and can be delivered at low cost per patient for young people with long term conditions. This model of care is a feasible approach for increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment in paediatric healthcare settings.</p> Trial registration <p>ISRCTN15063954, Registered on 9 December 2022.</p>

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Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月14日

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  • Anna Roach,
  • Sophie Bennett,
  • Isobel Heyman,
  • Anna Coughtrey,
  • Neha Batura,
  • Lina Gonzalez,
  • Nicki Astle,
  • Rebekah Coates,
  • Jessie Drinkwater,
  • Rebecca Evans,
  • Una Frederick,
  • Michael Groszmann,
  • Steve Jones,
  • Katie McDonnell,
  • Sarah Marley,
  • Amanda Mobley,
  • Abbie Murray,
  • Helena O’Sullivan,
  • Sarah Ormrod,
  • Nyah Patel,
  • Theo Prendegast,
  • Usha Rajalingam,
  • Venkat Reddy,
  • Ameenat Lola Solebo,
  • Isabella Stokes,
  • Emily Webster,
  • Rebecca Webster,
  • Gareth Vinton,
  • Roz Shafran

摘要

Background

Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people with long-term health conditions, access to timely and effective treatment is often difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services for young people with long-term health conditions and their families at six paediatric healthcare settings in England.

Methods

This was a prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study. Young people up to 25 years old with a long-term health condition, and their families were eligible. The primary outcome was the change in the total difficulties score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire between baseline and 6 months. Interventions provided were standard evidence-based low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy, onward referral or signposting. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with services and cost.

Results

Accessing the drop-in services led to significant reductions in emotional and behavioural symptoms (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.39) and improved quality of life (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.44). Parental depression and anxiety significantly improved (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.30 and d = 0.34).

The average waiting time for an initial assessment was 13.42 days. High levels of satisfaction were reported. The cost per patient was approximately half the estimated cost of a typical course of psychological therapy.

Conclusions

Drop-in mental health services are effective and acceptable and can be delivered at low cost per patient for young people with long term conditions. This model of care is a feasible approach for increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment in paediatric healthcare settings.

Trial registration

ISRCTN15063954, Registered on 9 December 2022.