Abstract
BackgroundPsychotherapy is highly effective and widely acknowledged for treating various mental disorders. Nevertheless, in terms of methods for teaching effective psychotherapeutic approaches and competencies, there has been a lack of investigation. Training and supervision are the main strategies for teaching therapist competencies, and standardized role-plays with simulated patients (i.e., trained individuals playing someone with a mental disorder) seem useful for evaluating training approaches. In medical education, this procedure is now internationally established. However, so far, little use has been made of standardized role-playing to evaluate training and supervision in the area of clinical psychology and psychotherapy.MethodsIn this study, standardized role-plays are used to evaluate methods for training and supervision. Central cognitive behavioral approaches for treating depression are taught in the training. The first experiment compares an active training approach (i.e., model learning) with a passive one (i.e., reading manual-based instructions). The second experiment compares a direct supervision technique (i.e., supervision based on video analysis) with an indirect one (i.e., supervision based on verbal reporting). In each experiment, 68 bachelor’s and master’s students of psychology will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Each student takes part in three role-plays (baseline, post and 3-month follow-up), which are all videotaped. Two independent raters assess therapist competencies in each role-play on the basis of a standardized competence scale.DiscussionThe research project aims to contribute to the development of specific training and supervision methods in order to improve psychotherapy training and patient care.Trial registrationISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN19173895. Registered on 10 December 2019.
Highlights
Psychotherapy is highly effective and widely acknowledged for treating various mental disorders
Given an α of 0.05 and a 1-β of 0.80, a sample of 68 participants will be necessary in each experiment, resulting in an overall sample size of 136 (G*Power Version 3.1.9.2) [53]. This Randomized controlled trial (RCT) combines the investigation of specific training and supervision techniques in clinical psychology by using Simulated/standardized patient (SP) and a validated observer-based rating scale for the assessment of psychotherapeutic competencies
We expect the study to contribute to evidencebased education and training in the treatment of mental disorders [1]
Summary
Psychotherapy is highly effective and widely acknowledged for treating various mental disorders. Training and supervision are the main strategies for teaching therapist competencies, and standardized role-plays with simulated patients (i.e., trained individuals playing someone with a mental disorder) seem useful for evaluating training approaches. In medical education, this procedure is internationally established. Little use has been made of standardized role-playing to evaluate training and supervision in the area of clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Assessment of psychotherapeutic competencies The appropriate assessment of psychotherapeutic competencies is central to the evaluation of psychotherapy training and clinical supervision methods. By contrast, measuring competence via simulated patients (i.e., at the third level of the pyramid model) reduces the aforementioned problems and facilitates standardization for learning purposes
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