Development and randomized-controlled evaluation of a web-based training in evidence-based trauma therapy.

Abstract

Although trauma-focused interventions are effective in treating patients with PTSD, they are not frequently used in clinical practice. To address this gap, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate a web-based training for trauma-focused therapy. Our main objective was to increase the knowledge and competencies of current and future licensed psychotherapists in the core procedures that have been identified as efficacious treatment components. The web-based training consists of modules on diagnostics and psychoeducation, disease models, evidence-based interventions, coping with difficulties in therapy, and exercises to promote self-care and mental hygiene. In a waitlist controlled evaluation study, therapists (N ϭ 499) were randomized into either an intervention or a waitlist control group. Knowledge, competencies, self-efficacy expectations, and willingness to conduct trauma-focused therapy were assessed via self-report in both groups before and after training completion. Results indicate a relatively low dropout rate and a high level of satisfaction with the content and structure of the training. In comparison to the waitlist control group, participants who successfully completed the training showed a significantly greater improvement in subjective ratings of knowledge and perceived treatment competence, perceived emotional competence, self-efficacy, and willingness to conduct trauma-focused therapy. They also improved significantly in their results on the knowledge test. In sum, results of this feasibility study suggest that the web-based training is an acceptable program to increase knowledge and competencies in terms of trauma-focused interventions. Further research should focus on evaluating whether the training increases therapists' competence in terms of objectively rated clinical skills. Public Significance StatementThe results of the present study show that a web-based training in evidence-based trauma therapy is an accepted and feasible way to train clinicians in evidence-based trauma therapy. Web-based This article was published Online First August 22, 2019.LISA M. SANSEN received her diploma degree in Psychology and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Bielefeld University in Germany. She is currently employed as senior psychotherapist at the outpatient clinic of Bielefeld University. Her areas of professional interest include implementation and research of cognitive-behavioural therapy, especially of posttraumatic stress disorder, and dissemination of trauma-focused interventions.LAURA B. SAUPE received her diploma in Psychology from the University of Marburg in Germany. She is currently employed as a PhD student at the workgroup for clinical psychology and psychotherapy at Bielefeld University in Germany. Her areas of professional interest include transgenerational effects of war and displacement; family violence, including its effects on adolescents' future expectations; and the dissemination of trauma-focused treatments via e-learning.ANNIKA STEIDL received her MS in Clinical Psychology from ...

Daring to process the trauma: using a web-based training to reduce psychotherapists’ fears and reservations around implementing trauma-focused therapy

“…Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS 23.0 and JMP version 13.2.0. For the purpose of data reduction, all 30 items regarding the subjective state of knowledge and competencies, subjective emotional competencies, and self-efficacy expectations were subjected to a principal component analysis (PCA;Sansen et al, 2019). The PCA resulted in six factors, including self-efficacy expectation, general knowledge (Cronbach's alpha: .92), specific competences (Cronbach's alpha: .75), self-care (Cronbach's alpha: .77), self-reflection (Cronbach's alpha: .71), and overcoming concerns (Cronbach's alpha: .55).…”

“…We investigated the relationship of sociodemographic factors, knowledge, and competences with willingness to carry out trauma-focused therapy, as well as their predictive value in terms of willingness in a regression analysis. The evaluation of the web-based training showed that it addresses both knowledge as well as competencies relevant to trauma diagnostics and treatment, emotional competencies, and selfefficacy expectations, and actually leads to an increase in all these areas (Sansen et al, 2019). Most of the training's outcome variables (general knowledge, specific competences, self-care, overcoming concerns, selfefficacy expectations, knowledge test) were associated with willingness to carry out trauma-focused therapy.…”

“…This study was part of a research consortium with the goal of developing and evaluating web-based trainings in the area of child protection. Sansen et al (2019) provide an extensive description of the construction of the web-based training, the sample, and the measures utilized as part of the research consortium's work.…”

“…Moreover, it contains information about coping with difficulties in trauma therapy such as dissociation, self-harming behaviour and suicidality, and trauma therapy for children. Videos of best practice patient-therapist interactions were used to promote practical and emotional competence in treatment situations (for a detailed description see Sansen et al, 2019).…”

“…Post questionnaires were completed by 183 therapists of the IG and by 151 therapists of the WG. A detailed description of the demographic data and a brief flow chart can be found in Sansen et al (2019). The groups did not differ with regard to age, gender, profession or work experience.…”