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The role of brief CBT in the treatment of anxiety and depression for young adults at a UK university: a pilot prospective audit study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 July 2015

Joanne M. Dickson  and
Matthew J. Gullo
Joanne M. Dickson*
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Matthew J. Gullo
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
*
*Author for correspondence: Dr J. M. Dickson, Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L25 3GB, UK (email: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has rarely been offered to students seeking professional psychological help at universities in the UK. Here, we aimed to investigate whether a brief course of CBT would improve anxious and depressive symptoms. Forty-eight student patients received a brief course of CBT at a university National Health Service, Student Health Centre in England. Patients completed weekly self-report measures of anxiety and depression at the commencement of each CBT session. Student patients receiving CBT showed significant decreases in anxiety and depression. These effects remained after controlling for a range of potential covariates (e.g. primary problem, total time in treatment, therapist qualifications). Findings suggest CBT is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms in a ‘real-world’ university clinic.

Keywords

Anxietyclinical psychologistscognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)depressionyoung adults
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 8 , 2015 , e14
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2015 

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Recommended follow-up reading

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