Awareness of and attitudes toward CBT, DBT, and ACT in an acute psychiatric sample

Treatment utilization for psychiatric illness is low, perhaps influenced by limited consumer knowledge of evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs). To inform consumer-directed dissemination efforts, we characterized preferences, beliefs, and knowledge about specific EBPTs (cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT], dialectical behavior therapy [DBT], and acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT]); and examined potential sociodemographic and treatment history correlates.

Before receiving treatment at a psychiatric partial hospital, patients (n = 249) completed the Psychological Treatment Consumer Questionnaire.

Most (75%) patients felt responsible for being aware of psychotherapy options and that it was important to receive research-supported psychotherapy (80%), but were split on whether research (42%) or their provider's recommendation (58%) carried greater decisional weight. Most (93%) patients had heard of CBT (93%) and DBT (71%), but not ACT (35%). Prior exposure to these EBPTs increased the likelihood of recommending them to others.

Findings support initiatives to enhance consumer familiarity with these EBPTs and inform dissemination efforts.