Case Study: Online Training in CBT for Mental Health Counselors Treating PTSD
| At a Glance |
Research Question
What is the effect of online training plus weekly consultation, online training alone, and standard training on CBT skills for PTSD. Change in clinical skills from pre to post training are being assessed using a simulated patient interview method.
NERI's Role
NERI in collaboration with the National Center for PTSD has developed a state of the art, interactive online training program in CBT for treatment of PTSD and is conducting a 3-arm randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of the training.
Results
The evaluation is currently underway. Enrollment was completed in July, 2010.
Funding Institution
This project is funded by the United States Department of Defense.
|
Many service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In order to help these veterans, psychologists, social workers, and other providers of mental health services must be trained in the latest treatment methods for this serious disorder. NERI and researchers at the National Center for PTSD have teamed to develop and evaluate an online training program for mental health providers in the use of key Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills for treatment of PTSD.
NERI’s Role
CBT is a well-known and effective form of psychotherapy that is increasingly being used to treat PTSD. NERI’s extensive expertise developing state of the art online training programs and program evaluation, combined with significant expertise from the National Center for PTSD related to course content and program assessment, is being used to evaluate whether an online training can overcome barriers to learning the core skills needed for the use of CBT with PTSD clients.
There are several unique aspects to this program. Clinical skills are assessed using a combination of simulated patient interviews (a novel approach), along with more traditional questionnaire assessments. Evaluating clinical skills and the measurable results of training is a central focus.
“The need for evidence-based training and assessment of therapist competency is a high priority, in addition to obtaining a better understanding of the process and outcome of training” says Raymond Rosen, NERI Chief Scientist and Principal Investigator on the project. “This project is an important step, both methodologically and conceptually, towards evidence based, broadly available online training modules for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and related mental health problems.”
Results
The evaluation is currently underway so there are not yet any results to report. Enrollment was completed in July, 2010 and data collection is expected to continue through October, 2010.