GPs suffering highest stress rates for 15 years, finds DH study

GPs are suffering the highest levels of stress recorded since 1998, with over half of those aged over 50 years saying they intend to quit direct patient care within five years, a DH-commissioned survey has found.

The national GP worklife survey - carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester - found the number of GPs over 50 intending to quit direct patient care has increased by 12% in the last two years.

The news comes as Pulse launched its Battling Burnout campaign earlier this year, which urged GPs to write to their MP to raise awareness to the issue. This followed from an investigation which found that almost half of GPs were at a high risk of becoming emotionally exhausted, depersonalised towards patients and feeling like they are not making a positive contribution to people’s lives in their job.

The national GP worklife study also found that stress in GPs was rising. In terms of job satisfaction, it revealed that on a seven-point scale where 1 means ‘extremely dissatisfied’ and 7 means ‘extremely satisfied’, average satisfaction had declined from 4.9 points in 2010 to 4.5 points in 2012 in both the cross-sectional and longitudinal samples.

GPs were least satisfied with hours of work, recognition for good work and hours of work, with the largest decreases in job satisfaction between 2010 and 2012 in the domains relating to hours of work and remuneration.

Read more here.

IAPT 'does not cut antidepressant prescribing'

The Department of Health’s scheme to improve access to psychological therapies (IAPT) for patients with depression and anxiety disorders has had no effect on antidepressant prescribing, according to the findings of a new study published on the Pulse website. 

The study into the DH’s IAPT scheme and rates of antidepressant prescribing between 2008 and 2011 in England showed that prescribing levels rose by 10% despite the introduction of IAPT.

Researchers from Imperial College, London found that IAPT, which in the NHS is largely based on offering patients access to cognitive behavioural therapy, concluded that ‘the implementation of IAPT had no significant impact on these increasing rates [of antidepressant prescribing].’

However, the study in this month’s edition of the British Journal of General Practicecautioned that the interpretation of antidepressant prescribing rates is ‘complex’.

‘Several recent factors may impact on diagnosis and management of depression. For example, QOF incentives following a diagnosis of depression may either increase rates or alternatively discourage GPs from applying a ‘label’ because of the workload involved.

‘In addition, waiting times for IAPT may necessitate intermediate action by GPs, such as prescribing antidepressants. As these results suggest that IAPT has not curbed the rise in antidepressant prescribing, it is important to re-explore factors that influence this prescribing,’ they said.

How to integrate online text-based CBT within IAPT

How to integrate online text-based CBT within IAPT was the topic of a presentation by Sarah Bateup, Clinical Lead for PsychologyOnline and lecturer at Exeter University, at the recent Recovery-Focused Conference organised by Bournemouth University and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust.

Sarah, who is a BABCP accredited therapist with over 27,000 hours of CBT, discussed her experiences gained with PsychologyOnline of integrating live synchronous, Internet-based text CBT into Step 3 IAPT services.

Prior to joining PsychologyOnline Sarah had worked for many years with the South London and Maudsley Trust where she trained junior doctors how to deliver CBT within IAPT. Before this, Sarah was a manager of a primary care CBT service in the South West of England. So she has a good understanding of IAPT and the support required for therapy services.

Sarah comments, "I am very interested in seeing how technology can enhance therapy and learning. Increasingly we are seeing more learning being offered online and accessed remotely. CBT is very much based on people learning and therefore it fits well within this model.

"Interestingly the benefits of text-based therapy are maintained for a long time. I think this is partly the action of writing and reading that takes place during the session. This is very much how we are used to learning and creates a real change in the thought processes.

"Originally IAPT was designed to offer patient choice and PsychologyOnline's service supports this by making it easier to access therapy. For example, we have seen particularly good results for patients with anxiety disorders for whom arranging and attending a face-to-face session in itself creates stress."

The bi-annual Recovery-Focused Mental Health Conference was held on September 6th 2013 and was attended by mental health professionals, health commissioners, researchers and service users. The purpose of the conference is to disseminate information about new research, innovation, best practice, and inspirational developments in mental health.

PsychologyOnline is exhibiting at the Mental Health Forum

PsychologyOnline is exhibiting at the Mental Health Forum for the first time. The event, on the 12th September 2013, is aimed at clinicians and commissioners involved with the care of people with mental health conditions.

Dr Michael Reilly, Business Development Director for PsychologyOnline, says that the event will provide a good opportunity to showcase how people with mental health problems can achieve measurable benefits by using the live online instant messaging-based therapy method developed and pioneered by PsychologyOnline.

Although numerous people are affected by mental illness, many are reluctant to access face-to-face therapy services.  Sometimes because they can’t due to mobility issues.  Sometimes because they won’t because the stigma of mental health prevents them from talking to their GP about their problems or attending a specialist clinic.

Many healthcare system players are becoming increasingly aware of the mental health problems of people with long-term conditions.  Many PsychologyOnline users do not wish to spend any more time than they have to in medical centres and clinics and are therefore reluctant to access face-to-face therapy services.

“Delegates will be able to see a demonstration of PsychologyOnline. This will enable them to see for themselves how effective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a live therapist can be when delivered securely over the Internet in a way that is easy to access.  The patient and the GP now have more choice – working online enables the patient to access therapy sessions at convenient times whilst still receiving very high quality treatment from a qualified therapist."

“We use our own network of highly trained psychologists and psychotherapists – multi-specialism and multi-lingual – who adhere to British Psychology Society and NHS standards for clinical and information governance.  Our therapists can provide sessions at any time to suit our patients, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“The service is already available to NHS patients across the county of Surrey, where initial data show very positive engagement between therapist and patient following referral, and positive feedback from GPs and patients on improved outcomes”.

Dr Reilly continues; “We are improving the service all the time.  Feedback from GPs and commissioners is really helpful.  We are looking forward to meeting as many as possible at the event.”

The Mental Health Forum is to be held at the Novotel London West One, Hammersmith, W6 8DR.  It is sponsored by Lundbeck UK with partners including ADASS, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Rethink Mental Illness and Pulse.  PsychologyOnline will be at the conference all day.  If you would like to arrange a private meeting then please contact Stephanie Ruskin on 07986 616451.