Implementing the knowledge assessment of CPT Critical Skills (KACCS) scale

Abstract

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) has been endorsed as an evidence-based therapy for PTSD. It is currently being implemented within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) as a manualized, trauma-focused psychotherapy in line with recommendations from the most recent VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of PTSD. While research on CPT implementation has focused on individual factors that facilitate or hinder adoption, little is known on whether trainees retain core concepts of CPT. The present research addresses this gap in the literature by conducting a validation study of the Knowledge Assessment of CPT Critical Skills (KACCS) Scale among known user groups of CPT (no experience, immediate user, expert user) and, subsequently, an implementation study of the KACCS Scale among clinician trainees participating in an online CPT training. The validation study found that the KACCS Scale can discriminate among various CPT user groups (no experience, intermediate, expert), while the implementation study found that the KACCS Scale provides specific information on core concepts that have been learned at the end of training. The KACCS Scale could benefit from further validation studies and, subsequently, be added to the current CPT instrumentation to monitor learning and retention of core concepts at various training periods (initial workshop, consultation, booster workshop).