title: Improving perceptions of cognitive-behavioral therapy with brief website exposure: Does neuroscientific allure impact attitudes?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to determine whether brief exposure to a webpage about cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the anxiety disorders improved knowledge and perceptions of this treatment. Further, this study tested whether participants were uniquely compelled by CBT if the mechanism of change cited neurological processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 389) recruited online viewed a webpage screenshot that described CBT for anxiety. Participants were randomized to view a version of the webpage which either described the mechanism of change as: 1) psychological, 2) neurological, 3) combination of neurological and psychological, or 4) no mechanism described. Participants completed measures of knowledge and perception of CBT before and after viewing the webpage. Credibility ratings and symptoms were assessed after viewing the webpage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of CBT was limited and perceptions were largely neutral to somewhat positive at baseline. Both knowledge and perceptions of CBT meaningfully improved after viewing the webpage. Mechanism of change did not impact perceptions of CBT or its credibility, though in the neurological and combination conditions there was less improvement in knowledge than in the psychological or control conditions. Greater symptoms of anxiety were associated with slightly less improvement in knowledge and perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study did not include long-term follow up, so the durability of the effects is unknown. Further, sample homogeneity undermines broad generalizability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is significant room and capacity to improve lay-people's knowledge and perceptions of CBT. Neurological explanations did not appear to uniquely promote the perception of CBT or its credibility.
authors.affiliation: Skidmore College, United States. Electronic address: cschofie@skidmore.edu.
authors.forename: Casey A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: Skidmore College, United States.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.affiliation: Skidmore College, United States.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponzini
authors.affiliation: McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, United States.
authors.forename: R Kathryn
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: McHugh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009862:Online Systems; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; CBT; Knowledge; Neuroscientific allure; Perception