Training Community Clinicians in Implementing CBT-ERP for Youth with OCD: A Pilot Study in Australian Community Mental Health Services.

Abstract

This pilot study evaluated the outcomes associated with a training workshop in cognitive-behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention (ERP) for youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) aimed at improving clinicians' capabilities and motivations. Questionnaires and role-plays were completed by 17 Australian clinicians working across community youth (i.e., child and adolescent) mental health services. Knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in using ERP, and adherence delivering it improved at post-training. At 6-month follow-up improvements in beliefs were not maintained, while competence delivering ERP improved. At pre-training, participants utilised ERP significantly less than they intended to. At follow-up, the proportion of time clinicians intended to dedicate to and self-reported time spent implementing ERP was unchanged relative to pre-training, and the intention-behaviour gap remained. Overall, training was associated with improvements in implementation capabilities, but the association with improvements in motivations and behaviour was less clear. Future research should explore the impact of implementation opportunities and develop strategies to support training.