StratCare: A multi-site randomised controlled trial of stratified care for depression

The Society for Psychotherapy Research UK Chapter, where Professor Naomi Moller is President and Dr Andreas Vossler is member of the Local Comittee, is proud to offer a series of free online research events for psychotherapy researchers (both novice and experienced) and research-interested practitioners. Employing a range of different event formats (e.g., panel discussion, online lecture, student presentations), expert psychotherapy researchers will present and discuss their current research projects and methodologies with their implications for psychotherapy practice. An online student research seminar will offer clinical/counselling psychology students the opportunity to present their own research and view research being done by other students.

The online events are available free of charge for both SPR members and non-members. please register via Eventbrite.

Title: StratCare: A multi-site randomised controlled trial of stratified care for depression

Abstract:

Clinical guidelines for the management of depression recommend psychological treatments organised in a stepped care pathway, where patients can access progressively intensive treatments in a sequential way. Stratified care follows principles of precision medicine, and involves selecting the intensity of treatment in a personalised way, based on each patient’s characteristics and expected prognosis.

The StratCare Trial involved 30 clinicians working across four IAPT psychological therapy teams; and they were randomly assigned to a stratified (n=15) or stepped care (treatment as usual, n=15) group. All clinicians used the same interview schedule to conduct assessments with patients seeking treatment for common mental health problems, but those in the stratified care group received a personalised treatment recommendation for each patient – generated by a prognostic machine learning algorithm. In total, n=951 eligible patients received either stratified (n=583) or stepped (n=368) care. The proportions of cases with a full remission of depression (PHQ-9) symptoms were compared between groups. Cost-effectiveness analysis compared treatment costs relative to patient-reported health outcomes. Results show that stratified care improves treatment outcomes.

This seminar will present the findings of the StratCare Trial and discuss implications for theory and practice guided by the following questions:

• How we can identify and treat complex cases?
• How can we match patients to available treatments?
• Is clinical judgement good enough to decide which treatment to offer?
• Is treatment matching cost-effective and affordable for health services?

By Dr Jaime Delgadillo, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK

Dr Jaime Delgadillo is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield and director of psychological therapies research at RDaSH NHS Trust. He has twenty years of clinical experience and has published over 80 scientific papers and book chapters in the field of mental health. He has been a principal investigator in clinical trials of psychotherapy and digital health interventions, supporting people with problems such as depression, anxiety, addictions, and occupational burnout. He is a member of the Society for Psychotherapy Research and an associate editor of the society’s journal, Psychotherapy Research.

Further events in the series:

Thursday 20th January 2022 (6:30pm-8pm) - Short presentations and discussion

Online Student Research Seminar

Short student presentations with discussion/feedback from the audience (Postgraduate students and researchers). Register for the event

Wednesday 9th February (6:30pm-7:30pm) - Book launch and discussion

Outcome measure and evaluation

Dr Chris Evans, Visiting Professor, UDLA Quito, Ecuador & Dr Jo-anne Carlyle, Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist. Register for the event

Wednesday 16th March (6:30pm-7:30pm) - Online lecture with Q&A 

Clients’ perspectives on preference work: A Consensual Qualitative Research

Dr Gina Di Malta, Lecturer in Psychotherapy and Counselling, The Open University & Dr Hanne Weie Oddli, Associate Professor, University of Oslo, Norway. Register for the event