LONDON, Aug. 8, 2025
NHS Talking Therapies Less Effective for Teens Than Adults
Young people aged 16-24 are less likely to recover from anxiety and depression through talking therapy than older adults.
- Talking therapy effectiveness for depression and anxiety is lower in 16-24 year olds compared to those aged 25-65.
- Young adults were 25% less likely to achieve reliable recovery and 17% less likely to show reliable improvement.
- Researchers suggest tailoring mental health services to better meet the needs of young people.
- Over 20,000 more young adults could have recovered annually if services were equally effective.
- Transition periods in early adulthood may impact consistent engagement with therapy.
Talking therapy for depression and anxiety, a common treatment offered by the NHS, appears to be less effective for individuals aged 16-24 compared to those aged 25-65, according to a new study. Researchers emphasize the need to adapt mental health services for young people to maximize their impact.
“Rates of depression and anxiety in young adults are rising, so there is an urgent need to ensure we are offering them the best possible mental health care,” said Dr. Rob Saunders, lead author and from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences. “Our analysis shows that talking therapies offered by the NHS are effective for younger adults, but as they are more effective for working-age adults, we believe there is work to be done to improve services for young adults.”
The study analyzed data from 1.5 million people who received NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression in England between 2015 and 2019. This included over 300,000 individuals aged 16-24. The therapies can encompass approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), guided self-help, counseling, and interpersonal therapy.
Researchers examined changes in symptom severity using standardized measures like the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7-item (GAD-7). Their findings indicated that young adults experienced smaller improvements in symptoms compared to those aged 25-65.
Specifically, individuals aged 16-24 were approximately 25% less likely to reach a threshold for reliable recovery and 17% less likely to achieve reliable improvement after a course of talking therapy. If these therapies were as effective for young adults as they are for older age groups, the study estimates that an additional 20,000 young adults in England could have recovered annually during the study period.
Professor Argyris Stringaris, a senior author from UCL Psychiatry, noted that young people might face difficulties navigating services designed for adults, leading to higher rates of missed or discontinued sessions. The period of late teens and early twenties is often marked by significant life transitions and stressful events, which can complicate consistent attendance.
Stringaris added, “Working together with young people should help optimize the content of treatment and the ways in which it is delivered.” He also suggested that the underlying causes of depression and anxiety might differ in young people, potentially requiring distinct treatment approaches, which calls for further research.
