Training primary care staff to deliver a computer-assisted cognitive–behavioral therapy program for anxiety disorders

Abstract

Objectives This paper describes the training model used with primary care staff to deliver an evidence-based computer-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for anxiety disorders within a collaborative care treatment delivery model. Methods We describe the training and proficiency evaluation procedures utilized in the CALM study, a large multi-site study of collaborative care for anxiety disorders in primary care. Training incorporated readings, didactic presentations, video demonstrations of CBT skills, role-plays, computer-assisted practice, CBT training cases, and ongoing group supervision provided by study psychologists. Results Proficiency training case data from 15 clinicians are presented. The anxiety clinical specialists (ACS) were highly proficient at delivering the CBT component of the CALM intervention. ACS also provided Likert-scale ratings and open-ended responses about their experiences with the training. Overall, the training was rated very positively, and was described as very thorough, indicating a high level of acceptability to clinicians. Recommendations for future training are described. Conclusions Primary care staff with none or minimal prior CBT experience can be trained to deliver a computer-assisted, evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders. The implications for dissemination and transportability of evidenced-based interventions are discussed.

An examination of the bidirectional relationship between functioning and symptom levels in patients with anxiety disorders in the CALM study

“…Full details of the computer-assisted CBT are described by Craske et al . (2009) as are details of ACS training by Rose et al . (2011).…”

Bringing Technology to Training: Web-Based Therapist Training to Promote the Development of Competent Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists

“…Recent studies by Craske and colleagues (2011;Rose et al, 2011) evaluated a web-based training model to be used by primary care staff to deliver a web-assisted CBT program for anxiety in adults. The training used web-based strategies including video demonstrations of CBT skills and web-assisted practice opportunities.…”

Therapist Training on Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders Using Internet-Based Technologies

“…However, when clinicians utilize EBTs with patients, they are often not delivered correctly (Kessler, Merikangas, & Wang, 2007; Stobie, Taylor, Quigley, Ewing, & Salkovskis, 2007). Thus, the most effective way to train clinicians in EBTs and to ensure their proper implementation is with didactic training plus ongoing expert consultation and feedback (Beidas, Edmunds, Marcus, & Kendall, 2012; Edmunds, Beidas, & Kendall, 2013; Nadeem, Gleacher, & Beidas, 2013; Rose et al, 2011). The amount of posttraining consultation hours has been found to significantly predict therapist adherence and skill at 3-month follow-up (Beidas, et al, 2012).…”