Young Adults Show Limited Benefits from NHS Talking Therapies

Quick Summary

• NHS talking therapies in England show reduced effectiveness for anxiety and depression treatment in younger adults (ages 16-24) compared to working-age adults (ages 25-65).
• Data from over 1.5 million users (2015-2019) reveals younger adults had a 35% improvement in symptom severity, versus 41% in the older group. Recovery rates for younger people were also lower by approximately 20-25%.
• Researchers used anonymous data collected through patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale surveys.
• Potential factors include social media effects, online dating influences, and higher rates of missed therapy sessions among younger users.
• experts suggest tailoring mental health care approaches for better outcomes among young people while noting the incremental benefit of therapy regardless of these disparities.

Image Caption: NHS talking therapies offer science-based self-help interventions and psychotherapy; Galina Zhigalova/Getty Images

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