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BMC Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Psychotherapy | Research article

A national evaluation of the Irish public health counselling in primary care service– examination of initial effectiveness data

Authors: Charles Brand, Fiona Ward, Niamh MacDonagh, Sharon Cunningham, Ladislav Timulak

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

The Counselling in Primary Care service (CIPC) is the first and only nationally available public counselling service in the Republic of Ireland. This study provides initial data for the effectiveness of short-term psychotherapy delivered in a primary care setting in Ireland for the first time.

Method

A practice-based observational research approach was employed to examine outcome data from 2806 clients receiving therapy from 130 therapists spread over 150 primary care locations throughout Ireland. Pre-post outcomes were assessed using the CORE-OM and reliable and clinically significant change proportions. Binary logistic regression examined the effect of pre therapy symptom severity on the log odds of recovering. Six and 12 month follow up data from a subsample of 276 clients were also analysed using growth curve analysis.

Results

Of 14,156 referred clients, 5356 presented for assessment and 52.3% (N = 2806) consented to participate. Between assessment and post-therapy a large reduction in severity of symptoms was observed- Cohen’s d = 0.98. Furthermore, 47% of clients achieved recovery,a further 15.5% reliably improved, 2.7% reliably deteriorated and34.7% showed no reliable improvement. Higher initial severity was associated with less chance of recovering at post-therapy. Significant gains were maintained between assessment and12 months after therapy- Cohen’s d = 0.50.

Conclusions

Outcomes for clients in the CIPC service compared favourably with large scale counselling and psychotherapy services in jurisdictions in the U.K., the U.S.A., Norway and Sweden. This study expands the international primary care psychotherapy research base to include the entire Republic of Ireland jurisdiction.

The other three areas mentioned recorded client data and responses using pen and paper.

This average is for 9 of the ten CIPC Community Hospital Organisations (CHOs). One CHO area was not part of this phase of the research

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Title: A national evaluation of the Irish public health counselling in primary care service– examination of initial effectiveness data
Authors: Charles Brand
Fiona Ward
Niamh MacDonagh
Sharon Cunningham
Ladislav Timulak
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Psychotherapy
Care
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03226-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

A national evaluation of the Irish public health counselling in primary care service– examination of initial effectiveness data

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

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