Effectiveness of teaching general practitioners skills in brief cognitive behaviour therapy to treat patients with depression: randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of teaching general practitioners skills in brief cognitive behaviour therapy.


METHODS
Parallel group, cluster randomised, controlled trial of an educational package on cognitive behaviour therapy.


METHODS
General practices in north London.


METHODS
84 general practitioner principals and 272 patients attending their practices who scored above the threshold for psychological distress on the hospital anxiety and depression scale.


METHODS
A training package of four half days on brief cognitive behaviour therapy.


METHODS
Scores on the depression attitude questionnaire (general practitioners) and the Beck depression inventory (patients).


RESULTS
Doctors' knowledge of depression and attitudes towards its treatment showed no major difference between intervention and control groups after 6 months. The training had no discernible impact on patients' outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
General practitioners may require more training and support than a basic educational package on brief cognitive behaviour therapy to acquire skills to help patients with depression.
King
Michael
M
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, London NW3 2PF. m.king@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
Davidson
Oliver
O
Taylor
Fiona
F
Haines
Andrew
A
Sharp
Deborah
D
Turner
Rebecca
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000193:education*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000193:education*; D016896:Treatment Outcome