Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Key Performance Indicators

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is designed to support the NHS in delivering by 2014/2015: Evidence-based psychological therapies, as approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), for people with depression and anxiety disorders; Access to services and treatments by people experiencing depression and anxiety disorders from all communities within the local population; Increased health and well-being, with at least 50 per cent of those completing treatment moving to recovery and most experiencing a meaningful improvement in their condition; Patient choice and high levels of satisfaction from people using services and their carers; Timely access, with people waiting no longer than locally agreed waiting times standards; Improved employment, benefit, and social inclusion status including help for people to retain employment, return to work, improve their vocational situation, and participate in the activities of daily living. The vision for the IAPT programme over the next spending review cycle was set out in the Department of Health publication “Talking Therapies: A four-year plan of action” and the IAPT KPIs will support measurement of the following objectives: 3.2 million people will access IAPT, receiving brief advice or a course of therapy for depression or anxiety disorders; Access to services will increase and by 2014/15 a minimum of 15 per cent per annum (3.75 per cent per quarter) of those in need will be able to access psychological therapy services; 2.6 million patients will complete a course of treatment; Up to 1.3 million (50 per cent of those treated) will move to measurable recovery. From quarter one of 2011/12 IAPT KPIs will also be used to support the NHS Operating Framework. Two IAPT indicators are included in the NHS Operating Framework to measure quarter-on-quarter improvement in: 1.Number of people entering treatment over the level of need, i.e. the number of people with depression and anxiety disorders in the population; 2.The number of people entering treatment over the number of people with depression and anxiety disorders referred for psychological therapies. The level of need in the general adult population is known as the rate of prevalence, defined by the Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. For common mental health conditions treated in IAPT services, it is expected that a minimum of 15 per cent of those in need would willingly enter treatment if available.