Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, Key Performance Indicators (IAPT KPIs) - Q1 2011-12 final and Q2 2011-12 provisional

29 December 2011: Labels on the reference data tables have been corrected to describe the correct date range.

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is designed to support the NHS in delivering:

• Evidence-based psychological therapies, as approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), for people with depression and anxiety disorders
• Access to services and treatments by people experiencing depression and anxiety disorders from all communities within the local population
• Increased health and well-being, with at least 50 per cent of those completing treatment moving to recovery and most experiencing a meaningful improvement in their condition
• Patient choice and high levels of satisfaction from people using services and their carers
• Timely access, with people waiting no longer than locally agreed waiting times standards
• Improved employment, benefit, and social inclusion status including help for people to retain employment, return to work, improve their vocational situation, and participate in the activities of daily living.

The vision for the IAPT programme over the next spending review cycle was set out in 'Talking Therapies: A four-year plan of action' 1 and the IAPT KPIs will support measurement of the following objectives:

• 3.2 million people will access IAPT, receiving brief advice or a course of therapy for depression or anxiety disorders
• 2.6 million patients will complete a course of treatment
• Up to 1.3 million (50 per cent of those treated) will move to measurable recovery.

From quarter one of 2011/12 IAPT KPIs will also be used to support the NHS Operating Framework. Two IAPT indicators are included in the NHS Operating Framework to measure quarter-on-quarter improvement in:

• The proportion of people entering treatment against the level of need in the general population;
• The proportion of those entering treatment against the number referred.

The level of need in the general adult population is known as the rate of prevalence, defined by the Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. For common mental health conditions treated in IAPT services, it is expected that a minimum of 15 per cent of those in need would willingly enter treatment if available.

Further guidance