Feedback and Psychotherapeutic Competencies

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the current study is to examine the influence of feedback on psychotherapeutic competency. The present randomized controlled study compares a feedback condition with a non-feedback condition. Therapists in the feedback condition receive feedback after every fourth session. The feedback is given by two trained and independent raters. The raters are licenced and experienced psychotherapists. Therapists in the non-feedback condition receive no feedback during the psychotherapy.

Official Title
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Impact of Feedback on the Devolpment of Psychotherapeutic Competencies: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Mental Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: No feedback
* Behavioral: Feedback after every fourth session


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Therapists Inclusion Criteria: Having successfully completed the interim audit Having started to treat ambulant patients Remaining at least 6 month in the ambulance Exclusion Criteria: - Patients Inclusion Criteria: Meeting ICD 10 criteria for a mental disorder Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Currently in psychotherapy Suicidal tendency Clinical diagnosis of alcohol or drug addiction, acute schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder Clinical diagnosis of personality disorder cluster A (odd disorders) and B (dramatic, emotional or erratic)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Feedback<br>Therapists assigned to this group will receive standardized feedback on their psychotherapeutic competency after every fourth treatment session with a patient for a period of 20 therapy sessions. The feedback will be given by two experienced raters who are licensed as psychological psychotherapists. | Behavioral: Feedback after every fourth session<br> <br> |
| Experimental: No feedback<br>Therapists assigned to this group will receive no feedback | Behavioral: No feedback<br>* Therapists will receive no feedback.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cognitive Therapy Scale (CTS) | external-assessment measure that assesses psychotherapeutic competency during a cognitive therapy session. CTS will be used by two trained raters licensed as psychological psychotherapists. | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Helping Alliance Questionaire (HAQ) | self-report measure to assess therapeutic alliance from the therapists perspective (therapist version; HAQ-T) and the patients perspective (HAQ-P) | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Berner Stundenbögen Version 2000 | self-report measure to assess therapeutic relationship from the therapists perspective (therapist version, TSTB) and the patients perspective (patient version; PSTB) | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) | external measure to assess the global functioning of the patient | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Supervisory Questionaire (SQ) | self-report measure to assess the therapists self-opening | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Supervisee Levels Questionaire (SLQ-R) | self-report measure to assess the therapists self-awareness | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE) | self-report measure to assess self efficacy of the therapist | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Fear of negative evaluation scale (Skala Angst vor negativer Bewertung; SANB) | self-report measure to assess fear of evaluation | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) | self-report measure to assess aspects of general psychopathology | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II) | self-report measure to assess depressive symptoms | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) | self-report measure to assess anxiety symptoms | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Client Satisfaction Questionaire (CSQ8) | self-report measure to assess satisfaction with therapy | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 
| Health-related quality of life (SF-12) | self-report measure to assess health-related quality of life | participants will be followed for the duration of psychotherapy, an expected average of 20 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Feedback, Therapeutic competencies, Training