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A service evaluation of ‘ IDEAS ’ – Modular treatment for youth with complex emotional needs

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: There is a crucial need for an evidence-based intervention for young people presenting with moderate complex emotional needs (CEN). UK CEN care has been described as variable and poor quality, with its improvement a UK policy priority. Briefer-versions of full-programme therapy packages utilizing stepped-care models offer a clear and contained pathway for this population, though their current availability in services is scarce. This service evaluation aims to evaluate the efficacy of 'IDEAS' as a piloted brief psychological intervention for young people aged 16-25 presenting with moderate CEN. METHOD: A pre-test/post-test design was used to explore clinical outcomes for participants and services via paired sample t-tests, mixed-model ANOVAS and frequency statistics. RESULTS: Exploratory pre/post-intervention analyses revealed significant reductions in mean scores for the severity of borderline personality disorder symptoms (d = .83), emotion regulation (d = 1.15) and overall wellbeing (reflecting improvement; d = .97) and increases in mean scores for quality of life (d = -.67), including level of satisfaction in one's quality of life and of therapeutic treatment received (d = -.65). These outcomes were maintained at 3-month follow-up, were little influenced by clinician training and supported readiness for discharge post-intervention for more (68.65%) participants. CONCLUSIONS: The current evaluation provides preliminary evidence that IDEAS may offer a feasible, lower-cost alternative to full-programme treatment packages, with benefits for young people, services and Trusts. Given this evaluation of IDEAS being from a small, uncontrolled pilot, the findings are exploratory. Further evaluation is therefore warranted upon its larger-scale implementation.

Source: British Journal of Clinical Psychology

DOI: 10.1111/bjc.70034

Authors: Annabel Harding, Franco Orsucci, Joanna Baines

Institutions: University of East Anglia, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Personality Disorders and Psychopathology

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,760