Study Finds NHS Talking Therapy Less Effective for Young Adults

Recent research conducted by University College London has revealed that NHS-provided talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), guided self-help, and interpersonal therapy, tend to be less effective for individuals aged 16 to 24 compared to the broader adult population aged 25 to 65. The study analyzed data from 1.5 million people who attended NHS mental health services for depression and anxiety between 2015 and 2019, including over 300,000 young adults.

The findings indicate that while therapy remains beneficial, young adults experience smaller improvements in symptom reduction. Specifically, individuals aged 16-24 were approximately 25% less likely to achieve reliable recovery and 17% less likely to report significant improvement than their older counterparts. If therapies could be as effective for young people as for older adults, an estimated 20,000 additional young adults in England could have recovered each year during the study period.

Lead researcher Dr. Rob Saunders emphasized that young people often face unique challenges navigating adult-focused mental health services, which may contribute to these outcomes. The transitional nature of late adolescence and early adulthood, coupled with different potential causes of depression and anxiety, suggests that tailored treatment approaches are necessary.

Professor Argyris Stringaris noted that early onset depression and anxiety might have distinct underlying factors requiring innovative and specific intervention strategies. The study underscores the importance of adapting mental health services to better meet the needs of young adults, especially given rising rates of depression and anxiety in this age group.

This research highlights the critical need for continued development of targeted mental health interventions to optimize care delivery and improve recovery rates among young people.