Health watchdog provisionally recommends digital CBT for use in the NHS

The National Institute of Care Excellence (NICE), the regulatory independent public body of the NHS, has released draft guidance stating that digital technologies can be used for the treatment of young people with support from mental health professionals.

NICE has conditionally recommended the use of five self-guided digital products, based on games, videos, and quizzes, utilising cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles to help young people learn techniques to manage their mental health symptoms.

There is an increased need for child and young people’s mental health services that has become even greater due to the Covid-19 pandemic requiring innovation

Digital CBT is delivered via smartphone, tablet, or computer and can be accessed remotely as a support feature for face-to-face treatment. The use of technology has been shown to be particularly appealing to children and young people, who may prefer to use digital platforms as a medium for treatment.

Mark Chapman, interim director of Medical Technology at NICE, said:

“There is an increased need for child and young people’s mental health services that has become even greater due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Technologies like these could help children and young people get wider access to support.”

“We understand that for some children and young people, technologies will not replace face-to-face interventions. What is promising about all the technologies we have conditionally recommended today is the way they bring together digital interventions with clinical support.”

“By driving innovations like these into the hands of clinicians, we can improve care for patients and help the service recover following the pandemic.”?

NICE’s independent medical technologies advisory committee has conditionally recommended five technologies, they are:

• Lumi Nova: A mobile game for children and young people aged between seven and 12 with symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety. The intervention combines exposure therapy (a form of CBT) and psychoeducational content within an intergalactic role-playing game.
• Space: An internet-based intervention for 15- to 18- year olds with symptoms of anxiety and low mood.?It is structured around the principles of traditional CBT, with sections on understanding anxiety or low mood, noticing feelings, facing your fears, spotting thoughts, challenging thoughts, managing worry and reflections on learnings.??
• Online support and intervention for child anxiety (OSI): An internet-based parent-led and therapist-supported psychological intervention for children aged 5 to 12 years old with symptoms of anxiety.?The platform has three components, a parent’s website, a clinician case management website, and an optional game app for children. Utilising interactive worksheets, videos, and quizzes.?
• OSCA (Online Social anxiety Cognitive therapy for Adolescents): An internet programme of cognitive therapy for social anxiety in adolescents aged 14 to 18 years old.?The therapist has a 15-minute phone call with the user each week and releases modules that will be most helpful. All users receive a core set of modules to work through, which is then individualised for each user.?
• ThinkNinja CBT Bytesize (Healios): An app for children and young people aged 11 years and older with anxiety or low mood. Containing psychoeducational and CBT-based content with wrap-around clinician support in the form of text messaging in the app and video calls via a secure platform on the computer or tablet.??

The NICE consultation on the draft recommendations is open until November 18th.