Government backs cCBT for mental health

The government has expressed its support for the use of Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) for patients with mild but common mental health complaints, including depression and anxiety.

According to the proposal, computer-based cognitive therapy will be established as a first-line treatment for people with common mental health conditions in every primary care trust in England over 2007-08.

The Beating the Blues programme for depression and Fear Fighter therapy for phobias and panic attacks have been approved for use by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.

Patricia Hewitt, health secretary, said: “Mental health services have clearly improved substantially, but we want to offer patients even greater choice over how, when and where they are treated.”

She added that facilitating access to the correct type of therapy rather than solely prescribing medication is key to this vision of the NHS.

GP and forensic medical examiner at the Taw Hill Medical Practice in Swindon Dr Peter Crouch commented that he had been using cCBT for over three years with positive feedback from patients.

Earlier this month, the government’s national director for mental health announced the provision of approximately one million pounds in grants to assist in the execution of the mental health bill currently being debated in parliament.