Overcoming barriers to disseminating exposure therapies for anxiety disorders: a pilot randomized controlled trial of training methods.
The present study evaluated methods for training mental health providers (N=46) in exposure therapies (ETs) for anxiety disorders. A pilot randomized controlled trial compared: (1) an interactive, multimedia online training (ET OLT), (2) the ET OLT plus a brief Motivational Interviewing-based intervention (ET OLT+MI), and (3) a placebo control OLT. Assessments were completed at baseline, post-training, and one-week following training. Both ET OLT and ET OLT+MI received high satisfaction ratings and were comparably effective at increasing knowledge of ETs as well as clinicians' overt efforts to learn and use the treatment. ET OLT+MI was the most effective method for improving clinicians' attitudes toward ETs. Results indicate that OLT is effective for disseminating knowledge about ETs to clinicians, and suggest that supplementing OLT with a brief MI-based intervention may be a promising direction to address potential attitudinal barriers to adopting these highly efficacious treatments.
Harned
Melanie S
MS
Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, United States. mharned@u.washington.edu
Dimeff
Linda A
LA
Woodcock
Eric A
EA
Skutch
Julie M
JM
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000193:education*; D020407:Internet; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires