Thousands of people with mental health problems are being denied the best and most effective treatments years after they were approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), according to new research by mental health charity Rethink.

The findings are backed up by a Healthcare Commission survey of 14,000 people with mental health problems, which shows nearly two thirds have never been offered a talking therapy. Proven talking therapies are not offered to people diagnosed with schizophrenia, despite pleas from patients and families for better access.

Less than 15 per cent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have had cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), according to Rethink's findings. Twothirds were given no choice about which medication they were prescribed, while one in three did not feel that they were involved in planning their care.

Dr Tim Kendall, a consultant psychiatrist from the NICE guideline development group, said: ‘There is no doubt that progress in some areas has not been good enough. Access to psychological therapies is the worst area, but we hope government investment in CBT for people with depression and anxiety will filter through for people with schizophrenia in a few years.’

Independent