title: An evaluation of the effectiveness of diploma-level training in cognitive behaviour therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As part of the UK government's initiative to Increase Access to Psychological Therapies (see http://www.iapt.nhs.uk/for full details of the IAPT programme) there has been an expansion in the provision of post-graduate Diploma training in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Previous evaluations of such training programmes have yielded mixed results but have been limited by small sample sizes and/or limited assessment measures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of a long-standing Diploma in CBT training programme on a variety of measures of CBT competence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trainees' levels of CBT skill are compared at the beginning and end of CBT training. The effect of therapist factors such as age, professional background and gender on the development of CBT competence is also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show that trainees demonstrate higher levels of CBT skills after completing the training than they did before, with the majority achieving pre-determined criteria for competence. Trainees' gender was not related to their performance but trainees' age showed a negative association with CBT skill (older trainees performed worse). Trainees' professional background also had an impact on their level of CBT competence, with trainees who were clinical psychologists demonstrating the highest levels of competence across a range of measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBT Diploma training leads to increases in the level of trainees' CBT competence, with the majority achieving the levels demonstrated in research trials by the end of training. Thus, this training is likely to lead to improved outcomes for patients. Further research is needed to determine the most efficient ways of enhancing CBT skills.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, Warneford Hospital, UK. freda.mcmanus@psych.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Freda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westbrook
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Montes
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fennell
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kennerley
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000193:education*; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence