Realising the potential of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies for older adults

Depression and anxiety are significant problems for older adults and for those with chronic health problems.¹ Social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for depression,² and are particularly relevant to the older adult population in the UK.^3,4 The COVID-19 pandemic and public health measures have restricted physical access of many to their social networks,⁵ and to face-to-face consultations. This is likely to have disproportionately affected the mental health of older adults and those with chronic health problems.⁶

For depression and anxiety with mild–moderate functional impairment, psychoeducation and psychological therapies are recommended as first-line therapeutic options by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evidence-based guidelines under distinct stepped-care approaches.^7,8 The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service was launched across England in 2008 in response to demand for more access to evidence-based psychoeducation and psychological therapies in the NHS.⁹ There have been different initiatives to increase access to psychological therapies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.¹⁰ Recent national datasets for England indicate that >87% of patients who begin treatment with IAPT wait no longer than 6 weeks from their referral.¹¹ However, there are regional variations, and waiting times for certain treatments are likely to be longer. Older adults have equal success rates with therapy compared with the …