Pilot to use Behavioural Action therapy to combat depression in young people

Known as ComBAT (Community-based Behavioural Activation Training), the programme is a partnership of the Hull York Medical School, University of York and the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV).

The partnership will develop, implement and evaluate Behavioural Activation (BA) – a type of psychological therapy – with the aim of helping young people in the area aged 12-18 years with mild to moderate depression.

The project will recruit 300 young people with mild to moderate depression from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as well as schools and third sector organisations, to take part in the programme.

Behavioural Activation is based on the key principle that enjoyable, purposeful and meaningful activities can improve mood, energise us and stimulate interest and pleasure in day-to-day life.

BA helps people with depression re-engage with these activities, so that they can re-experience the associated emotional rewards of pleasure and achievement that are lost during depression.

Professor Lina Gega, Professor of Mental Health at Hull York Medical School and the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York will lead the project on behalf of the TEWV NHS Foundation Trust. She said: "The ComBAT programme will evaluate the benefits, acceptability and value for money of Behavioural Activation compared to usual care for young people with mild to moderate depression.

"Depression negatively affects young people’s lives, including their personal and academic development, their relationships with others and their sense of self.

"Schools and community agencies alongside the NHS play an important part in broadening access to clinically informed interventions that can change the trajectory of depression and improve young people’s lives.

The programme will be delivered across both North Yorkshire (including York) and the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys area, which spans from County Durham to Teesside.

"Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust has an excellent track record in supporting and delivering studies in Behavioural Activation for adult populations,” Gega said. “It is a great opportunity to build on this experience and expand the remit of this intervention to include adolescents."

Professor Dave Ekers, Clinical Director for Research and Development from TEWV NHS Foundation Trust said that Behavioural Activation is a well-established and effective therapeutic intervention for adults, and that it is hoped the project will prove its promise as an intervention for young people, too.

There has already been two pilot studies implementing Behavioural Activation in adolescents, however this will be the first large scale, randomised controlled trial for this intervention.

"As we continue to look closely at the mental health of our young people, we hope that ComBAT will bring us to the point where key people supporting our youth can deliver a clinically informed intervention to treat depression,” Professor Ekers said. “This is not only professionals in schools and other community settings, but also young people’s charities, youth justice services and social care."