NICE completed the first early value assessment for medical technologies

In February 2023, NICE completed its first early value assessment (EVA) within the medical technologies evaluation program: digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children and young people with symptoms of anxiety and low mood. NICE introduced a new type of guidance to cover completed EVAs - health technology evaluation (HTE). EVAs in development are listed within the relevant medical technologies evaluation program (i.e., medical technologies guidance, diagnostic guidance).

The objective of EVA is to identify the most promising technologies in health and social care where there is the greatest need and provide quicker conditional recommendations while informing further evidence generation. Further evidence will be generated within the next three years to assess if the benefits of these technologies are realized in practice. NICE guidance will be then reviewed to include this evidence and make a recommendation on the routine adoption of these technologies across the NHS.

NICE recommended four guided self-help digital CBT technologies to be used as an initial treatment option for children and young people (aged 5 to 18) with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or low mood while evidence is being generated. These technologies can be used once they have Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) approval from NHS England. The technologies are:

• Lumi Nova (by BfB labs);
• Online Social anxiety Cognitive therapy for Adolescents (by OSCA);
• Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety (by OSI);
• Space from anxiety for teens, space from the low mood for teens, space from low mood and anxiety for teens (by Silvercloud);

NICE also specifies the potential benefits of early access and managing the risk of early access.

ThinkNinja CBT Bytesize (by Healios) was also evaluated. However, NICE has not included it in recommendations, as this technology is awaiting CE mark approval, so it cannot be used yet.

See more information here.

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