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Psychological Therapy in Secondary Mental Health Care: Access and Outcomes by Ethnic Group

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Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To explore the differences in access to, and outcomes of, psychological therapy for different ethnic groups across a South London Mental Health Trust.

Method

This study used Trust data to explore the proportions of ethnic groups accessing psychological therapy as a proportion of all patients supported by the Trust, as well as their outcomes within broad diagnostic clusters.

Results

Compared to proportions in the local population, there were significantly more White/White British patients and significantly fewer patients from ‘other ethnic groups’ in the Trust (p < .05). There was also significantly greater proportion of Black/Black British patients with schizophrenia diagnoses compared to the proportion of Black/Black British people in the local population (p < .001). Of those accessing psychological therapy, there were significantly more White/White British and ‘other ethnic group’ patients and significantly fewer Black/Black British patients (p < .05). For schizophrenia diagnoses, significantly fewer Black/Black British and ‘other ethnic group’ patients were accessing psychological therapy (p < .05); however for behavioural and emotional disorders, there were significantly higher proportions of ‘other ethnic group’ and White/White British patients. Outcomes varied by diagnosis; Black/Black British patients experienced significantly higher distress scores at the beginning of therapy for depression and neurotic diagnoses (p < .05), with the latter persisting at the end of treatment.

Conclusions

Across the Trust, there were significant differences in the proportion of ethnic groups in accessing psychological therapy, as well as in outcomes. More research is needed to understand the factors that may underlie these disparities.

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Acknowledgements

The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, UK

    Louise Mercer, Lauren Jayne Evans, Robert Turton & Alison Beck

  2. Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK

    Louise Mercer, Lauren Jayne Evans, Robert Turton & Alison Beck

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  1. Louise Mercer
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  2. Lauren Jayne Evans
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  3. Robert Turton
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  4. Alison Beck
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Correspondence to Robert Turton.

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Ethical approval was obtained from the research and development committee within the organisation to conduct this research. The Ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its following amendments or comparable ethical standards were followed.

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Mercer, L., Evans, L.J., Turton, R. et al. Psychological Therapy in Secondary Mental Health Care: Access and Outcomes by Ethnic Group. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 6, 419–426 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-00539-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-00539-8

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