Oxford University announces four new online therapies for anxiety and PTSD, now available on the NHS. The therapies target childhood anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders and were developed with support form Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC).
In a significant step towards making mental health support more accessible, the University of Oxford has announced the commercialisation of the four digital therapies. These innovative interventions, developed with support by our OH BRC and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley (ARC OxTV), are now licensed to Koa Health for distribution across the NHS, potentially transforming the way mental health care is delivered in the UK.
Among these digital therapies is a programme for childhood anxiety, developed by OH BRC Theme Lead for Mental Health in Development, University of Oxford Prof Cathy Creswell, with the collaboration’s funding and support.
The other three interventions target social anxiety disorder and PTSD in adolescents and adults. All four therapies have shown remarkable results in randomised clinical trials, leading to the licensing agreement between Oxford University Innovation and Koa Health, which aims to make these evidence-based treatments widely available to NHS patients.
Prof Creswell, Professor of Developmental Clinical Psychology explains: “Recent surveys suggest ongoing increases in the number of children and young people that are experiencing anxiety problems. Our online platforms, which were developed with support from OH BRC and ARC OxTV, provide practical tools with guidance and support to help tackle issues from home.”
Professor Anke Ehlers, a psychologist at the University of Oxford, and OH BRC Co Theme Lead for Psychological Treatments who led the work on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) says: “We’ve tested the digital therapy with patients who have PTSD from a broad range of traumas. Recovery rates and improvements in quality of life are excellent. Our clients value being able to work on the treatment from home at a time convenient to them.”
Dr John Pimm, Clinical and Professional Lead for Oxford Health NHS FT Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies, said: “People using our Talking Therapies services had been successfully using internet-based cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder as part of the research trial and we are now pleased that our therapists will be able to offer this innovative treatment to more people using the Koa platform.”
Koa Health, a leading digital mental health company, has partnered with the University of Oxford to make these online therapies widely available through NHS services across the country. By providing evidence-based interventions via a digital platform, Koa Health aims to expand access to effective mental health support, reduce pressures on traditional services, and improve outcomes for patients of all ages.
Dr Oliver Harrison, CEO of Koa Health, said: “We are proud to collaborate with the University of Oxford to bring these innovative, clinically-validated digital therapies to NHS patients across the UK. By leveraging technology to deliver evidence-based interventions at scale, we can help bridge the gap in mental health care access and support the NHS in its mission to provide timely, effective treatment for all who need it.”
The need for expanded mental health services is clear, with one in five children and young people in England experiencing a probable mental disorder and one in four adults facing at least one diagnosable mental health problem each year. The commercialisation of these Oxford-developed digital therapies represents a significant step towards meeting this growing demand and ensuring that evidence-based support is accessible to all.
The University of Oxford’s Dr Simon Warner, Head of Licensing & Ventures at Oxford University Innovation, added: “These four mental health digital therapies are a fantastic example of the world-class expertise within the University of Oxford translating into cutting-edge solutions with real-world impact. We are excited to see these tried and tested interventions now readily available to help change the lives of people suffering from mental health conditions.”
The commercialisation of these innovative therapies marks a significant milestone in translating world-class Oxford mental health research into tangible benefits for NHS patients, with the potential to positively impact countless lives across the UK.
