Learning Disability National Audit – feasibility study and recommendations and future plans

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The results of the feasibility study into a national clinical audit of learning disabilities was published last month. Here we consider the findings and the response from NHS England

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How do we make a diagnosis? Screening tools for anxiety disorders

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Josephine Neale blogs about a systematic review of screening tools for anxiety disorders, which concludes that the GAD-7 and PHQ instruments are appropriate for use in primary care.

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CBT in primary care is cost-effective for treatment-resistant depression

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Elf economist Chris Sampson reports on the economic evaluation of the CoBalT RCT, which finds that CBT is cost-effective for treatment resistant depression in primary care.

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Are primary care interventions for intimate partner violence effective? I wish I could tell you

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Listen up systematic reviewers. Don’t make Sarah Knowles angry; you won’t like her when she’s angry. Cue a rather frustrated blog about new research on primary care interventions for intimate partner violence.

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Measure of confidence in providing psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities could help with outcome measurement

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We report on a recent study, which involved developing a measure of confidence in delivering psychotherapy for people with learning disabilities.

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Toolkit for GP practices on reasonable adjustments to support people with learning disabilities

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The past few years has seen the publication of a number of national reports which have highlighted the often poor response to people with learning disabilities by health services, (‘Death by Indifference’, ‘Healthcare for all’ ‘Six Lives’ investigation) which led to a number of key recommendations for improvement, including the need for reasonable adjustments in [read the full story…]

Homelessness and mental illness in children and young people

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This study explores the prevalence of psychiatric disorder and comorbidity among a UK sample of young people with experience of homelessness. It finds an extremely high prevalence of mental illness, combined with low levels of mental health service use.

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Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may reduce the demand for primary care visits

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Can’t get an appointment with your GP? Don’t stress, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may help by reducing the demand for primary care visits by distressed patients, according to a new study in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research.

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Signs of value for money in some out of hours GP services, but room for improvement says National Audit Office

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This new report from the National Audit Office considers the current status of out of hours GP services in England, based on data collected during 2013-2014. Although the report is focused on England, there may be lessons for commissioners in other health systems. Methods The report is based on : a web-based survey of CCGs (175 [read the full story…]

Mental health has led the move away from hospital care to home based treatment says guide

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This guide is an excellent example of developing resources to help learn from good practice. It has been written for all commissioners and providers, but in particular clinical commissioners, and mental health commissioners and practitioners. Primary care mental health The first section of the guide gives a comprehensive overview of the state of primary care [read the full story…]