Psychological Therapies Development Unit
The Psychological Therapies Development Unit facilitates the use of psychological interventions in the NHS.
The Psychological Therapies Development Unit (PTDU) was founded in October 2010 to encourage and facilitate the development of psychological interventions in the NHS, particularly dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT).
DIT is one of the talking therapies recommended for depression at Step 3 by the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. It is a psychodynamic alternative to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Research
Research exploring the effectiveness of DIT is underway. The results of a DIT vs ‘treatment as usual’ trial are due in autumn 2016. We hope that such research will support patient choice in psychological therapies.
We maintain strong links with other research establishments so as to contribute to the evidence base for psychological therapies.
Training
We are involved in administering continuing professional development (CPD) funds for Health Education England in the non-CBT modalities, including:
- dynamic interpersonal therapy
- counselling for depression
- couple therapy for depression
- interpersonal therapy
We also offer courses and bespoke training.
Leadership
Deborah Abrahams leads the Psychological Therapies Development Unit. She is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and chartered clinical psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She offers psychotherapy to adults with a wide range of difficulties and has run many training programmes in the UK and overseas.