(April, 2005)
This is a joint John Lyons Charity (JLC)/CWMT project agreed in June 2003 with JLC providing the great majority of the funding. The project aims to evaluate an enhanced care management approach (in part based on effective use of the graduate Primary Care Mental Health Workers (PCMHW)) and on improving access to the service by young men suffering from depression. The project is based on the Ampthill and Keats Practices in Camden.
Two PCMHWs were recruited and trained. The latter covers induction to Camden, primary care and mental health needs, GP practice organisation and protocols, introduction to counselling, the delivery of facilitated self-help, medication, interviewing and telephone techniques and shadowing other MH specialists. Protocols have been developed and will be adjusted in the light of experience. Self-help materials have been assessed and outreach has started. You may appreciate that PCMHWs have been directed towards Primary Care without specific training for this particular role and with some doubt about where and how they may fit into the organisation.
By 2nd March 2005 a total of 87 patients had been accepted into the study either as a result of examination of medical records or by self-referral (in some cases in response to fliers) or having been referred by GPs. The 4 month follow-up has been completed for 47 out of 65 eligible patients (with 11 pending) and the 8 month follow-up for 9 out of 20 (with 10 pending).
In order to increase the number of patients within the study the timeframe was extended thanks to a supplementary grant from JLC and further support from Camden. In addition it is intended to recruit additional patients from neighbouring practices.
The drafting of the project report has started in particular those parts relating to the job description of PCMHWs, the training requirement and the protocols covering the interaction between practices and PCMHWs. A preliminary report is likely to be published by WHURR in December 2005.
June, 200 5)
Recruitment to the programme having ceased the follow-up stages proceed: -
4 Month Follow-up
79 patients are due for follow-up of which 60 (76%) have completed the relevant measures by completing the questionnaire in writing, orally or during a face to face interview. Of the remaining 7 patients have not been contactable and 5 refused to complete the follow-up measures. 7 are pending.
8 Month Follow-up
54 patients are due for follow-up. To date 33 (61%) have completed questionnaires, 11 patients have not been contactable and 4 patients have refused to complete the follow-up measures. 6 are pending.
Focus Groups
Meetings are planned at the Ampthill and Keats practices. The next Steering Group meeting is on 13th July 2005.
(September, 2005)
The 4-month follow-up has been completed with 82% participation. The 8-month follow-up is due to be completed by mid-October 2005. To date 67% participation has been achieved. The practice focus groups have met to give their views on enhanced care and the overall project.
Analysis of the results should be completed by the end of 2005 with reports available by March 2006.
(January, 2006)
The 8-month follow-up has been completed with 70% participation. This is regarded as very satisfactory. A chapter describing the project will be published by Routledge in June 2006. Other articles are being drafted but await the conclusion of statistical analysis.
(June, 2006)
The John Lyons Charity publication including a chapter on this project is with the printers. A full report including statistical analysis should be available by September 2006.
(February, 2007)
The Report has been published and will be available on this site soon.
