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Despite anecdotal evidence that the out of pocket costs of OCD can be substantial in some cases, there is no evidence on how many people they affect, or the magnitude of these costs. This paper explores the type and quantity of out of pocket expenses reported by a large sample of adults with OCD. Data on out of pocket expenses were collected from participants taking part in the OCTET multi-centre randomised controlled trial. Participants were aged 18+, meeting DSM-IV criteria for OCD, and scoring 16+ on the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Individual-level resource use data including a description and estimated cost of out of pocket expenses were measured using an adapted version of the Adult Service Use Schedule (AD-SUS): a questionnaire used to collect data on resource use. Forty-five percent (208/465) reported out of pocket expenses due to their OCD. The mean cost of out of pocket expenses was £19.19 per week (SD £27.56 SD), range £0.06–£224.00. Future economic evaluations involving participants with OCD should include out of pocket expenses, but careful consideration of alternative approaches to the collection and costing of this data is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite extensive literature examining perceptions of recovery from severe mental illness, literature focusing on recovery from depression in adults is limited. Aim: Systematically review the existing literature investigating patients' and clinicians' perceptions of, and factors associated with, recovery from depression. Method: Studies investigating perceptions of, and factors associated with, recovery from depression in adults were identified through database searches. Studies were assessed against inclusion criteria and quality rating checklists. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Recovery from depression is perceived as a complex, personal journey. The concept of normalised, biomedical definitions of recovery is not supported, with the construction of self and societal gender expectations identified by women as central to recovery. Recovery from depression was associated with higher levels of perceived social support and group memberships. A range of factors are identified as influencing recovery. However, physicians and patients prioritise different factors assessing what is important in being "cured" from depression. Conclusions: Recovery from depression is perceived by patients as a complex, personal process, influenced by a range of factors. However, greater understanding of clinicians' perceptions of client recovery from depression is essential to inform clinical practice and influence future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practice Research Networks (PRNs) are introduced in the context of the need of mental health services to deliver on the effectiveness agenda. PRNs provide the infrastructure to enable discrete services within a geographical region to collaborate on audit and evaluation ventures. The provision of such an infrastructure yields potentially large data bases that provide the foundation for delivering 'practicebased evidence' as a natural complement to 'evidence-based practice'. Accordingly, PRNs help to provide a bridge for delivering high quality research in the post-Culyer NHS. An example of a UK PRN is provided. The potential for clinicians to address the effectiveness agenda is addressed according to the following issues: cost-efficiency; research, development and dissemination; research-practice gap; resistance to effectiveness evaluation; and policy implementation and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the rationale for developing and implementing a core outcome battery in routine clinical practice as well as psychotherapy research. Uses of outcomes measurement; Analysis of the previous efforts to achieve a core outcome battery; Reasons for lack of consensus on a core outcome battery; Factors in the development of outcome measures in psychotherapy.

Discusses the implications of the Second Sheffield Psychotherapy Project (SPP2) findings for clinical practice. Information about the SPP2; Main outcome and therapy process findings; Advantages to cognitive-behavioral therapy of the exceptions to treatment equivalence.