An evaluation of training in brief cognitive–behavioural therapy in a non-English-speaking region: experience from India

Abstract

The authors wanted to learn whether it was possible to deliver cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) in a low-income country where English is neither the first nor the preferred spoken language and to evaluate the effectiveness of the training in terms of skills acquisition. Twenty participants attended a 3-day workshop on the technique. All had experience of communicating in Hindi with patients, although their medical training was in English. There is no manual for CBT in Hindi. Role-plays focused on basic CBT skills such as Socratic dialogue, the ‘five area’ approach, the use of the ‘downward arrow’, developing an automatic negative thought record and devising behavioural experiments, in Hindi. The findings suggested that it is feasible to train mental health professionals in CBT where English is not the first language.