The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Competence Scale (CCS): initial development and validation

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Educational Psychology
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• Mental health disorders affect nearly one-third of youth, with many not receiving adequate care.
• Training providers in evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is crucial for improving youth mental health outcomes.
• Valid assessment measures are needed to inform and evaluate the effectiveness of these training initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the CBT Competence Scale (CCS), a brief self-report measure.
• To assess provider competence in the delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Main Methods:

• The study involved 387 school mental health professionals (SMHPs).
• Initial item development (n=59) focused on CBT knowledge, perception, and technique application.
• Validation used item response theory, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and reliability/validity testing.

Main Results:

• The validated CCS is a 33-item, four-dimensional measure (Non-behavioral skills, Behavioral skills, Perceptions, Knowledge).
• The CCS demonstrated excellent internal consistency.
• Good construct-based validity was established for the measure.

Conclusions:

• The CCS is a promising, valid, and informative measure of CBT competence.
• The scale is suitable for school settings and adaptable to mental health clinics.
• It can be used to inform and evaluate CBT training programs for providers.