What is it about?
Some people make regular visits to primary care over a long period of time. This study looked at whether cognitive behavioural therapy might be feasible and acceptable to patients, and how it might be used to address high levels of service use.
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Why is it important?
The study showed that CBT was feasible and acceptable for some people who regularly visited their GP. There was also some indication that CBT might be effective in reducing service use and improving mental health. It could therefore be a useful way of reducing pressure on primary care services while also improving outcomes for patients.
Perspectives
Frequent attendance in primary care is costly to the NHS, but more importantly it often does not address people's underlying health problems. This study suggested that CBT might improve quality of life outcomes for patients. So future research building on this study might identify cost-effective approaches to psychological intervention.
Mr Christopher James Sampson
The Office of Health Economics
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Cognitive behaviour therapy for long-term frequent attenders in primary care: a feasibility case series and treatment development study, British Journal of General Practice, July 2016, Royal College of General Practitioners,
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp16x686569.
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