The R & D sub-committee was formed in 1996, as the APP became aware of the importance of empirical evaluation within the field of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The Strategic Review of Psychotherapy Services commissioned by the Department of Health (Parry & Richardson 1996) highlighted a relative lack of evidence about the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and called for greater commitment in this area. The APP took this report and the allied review of evidence very seriously, as a lack of response from the field may threaten existence in the long-term of psychoanalytic psychotherapy within the NHS.
We are working on a number of important projects, mostly in an advisory capacity to NHS committees of one kind or another.
1. NICE is currently reviewing its guidelines for Adult Depression - both the original guideline of 2004, and a new guideline linking depression to chronic physical health conditions. These are due for publication in 2009. My role is as a member of the Guideline Development Group for the revision of the original 2004 version. There are 5 CBT specialists represented on the group.
2. Skills for Health are producing a set of Competence Frameworks for psychological therapies, and have published the first of these for CBT (see www.ucl.ac.uk/CORE/). These frameworks will be used to inform the training and skills requirements for IAPT services. Dr. Alessandra Lemma has been seconded to review the evidence base and produce a draft set of competencies based mainly on manualised treatment approaches, which have proven efficacy. My role is as a member of the Expert Reference Group, alongside other dynamic clinicians and researchers, under the chairmanship of Professor Anthony Bateman.
3. New Ways of Working is a Department of Health initiative aimed at reviewing the traditional roles and working practices in mental health. It is a cross cutting programme with a focus on improving productivity, efficient staff deployment, building and sustaining new teams, and ongoing organisational development in the delivery of mental health care. My role is to co-Chair a working group, which looks afresh at the roles of all Psychological Therapists.
4. The Psychoanalytic Strategic Alliance (PSA) currently consists of the APP, BPC, and Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. The Executives of these organisations will meet on a regular basis, produce a joint strategic plan, and agree a work schedule. We are looking to make this a wider group over the coming months. Setting up a Research Consortium will be one part of our overall planning. My role is to provide advice to APP's Executive, and to the PSA. One consequence of this for APP, for example, is our current Sections will benefit from opportunities to link up with the equivalent sub-sections in the PSA.
5. The New Savoy Partnership and the IAPT programme are now inextricably linked at a number of levels, including collaborating on the annual conference. My role includes being on the National Programme Board, chaired by Minister for Care Services, Ivan Lewis.
6. I would like to welcome Linda Stephenson, who has taken on the role of Research Assistant in R&D.
Mr Jeremy Clarke Tel: 020 7978 1494 e-mail: therapy@practice.demon.co.uk
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