Scaling up psychological treatments: A countrywide test of the online training of therapists

Abstract

Background: A major barrier to the widespread dissemination of psychological treatments is the way that therapists are trained. The current method is not scalable. Objective: Our objective was to conduct a proof-of-concept study of Web-centered training, a scalable online method for training therapists. Methods: The Irish Health Service Executive identified mental health professionals across the country whom it wanted to be trained in a specific psychological treatment for eating disorders. These therapists were given access to a Web-centered training program in transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders. The training was accompanied by a scalable form of support consisting of brief encouraging telephone calls from a nonspecialist. The trainee therapists completed a validated measure of therapist competence before and after the training. Results: Of 102 therapists who embarked upon the training program, 86 (84.3%) completed it. There was a substantial increase in their competence scores following the training (mean difference 5.84, 95% Cl-6.62 to-5.05; P