ITFRA is a research taskforce aiming to improve our understanding of the prevention of relapse in depression, harmonise outcome and moderator measurement and advocate for improved outcomes for people who have experienced depression.
We are a group of scientists, clinicians, policy makers and people with lived experience working together to foster innovative and groundbreaking research to help improve practice and outcomes for people at risk of recurrence.
Our current projects are largely focussed on individual participant data meta-analysis and meta-analyses aiming to identify what works for whom and evaluate treatment approaches such as the role of psychological interventions and antidepressants in preventing relapse or recurrence.
In 2007, the inaugural meeting of an expert consortium focussed on the study of psychological interventions for relapse prevention took place, in an effort established and led by prof. dr. Claudi Bockting - with prof. dr. Willem Kuyken, prof. dr. Emily Holmes, prof. dr. Ulrich Stangier, prof. dr. Martin grosse Holtforth, prof. dr. Mark Williams, prof. dr. Steve Hollon. The aim of the consortium was to improve our understanding of the prevention of relapse and and harmonise measurement evaluating psychological interventions in randomised controlled trials for relapse prevention of depression.
Around 10 years later, the consortium took the ITFRA acronym and expanded into an individual participant data database of over 33 randomised controlled trials, evaluating psychological interventions versus control in an effort led by dr. Josefien Breedvelt. Today, ITFRA brings together a wide range of international experts and collaborators for the purpose of conducting a series of individual participant data meta-analyses aimed at identifying what works for whom in the prevention of depression and anxiety relapse.
We have attracted over 3 million pounds in funding from a range of philanthropic and grant funders (e.g., APH Public Health, Wellcome, The Prudence Trust) to advance the understanding of relapse prevention of common mental disorders in adults and youth.
In our 'Current projects' page, you can find out more information about these specific activities and in 'Current members' you can find an updated list of all our members to date.