Training case managers in cognitive-behaviour therapy

Four case managers with a nursing background took part in a 26 week in-service programme aimed at developing basic skills in cognitive-behaviour therapy. The programme occupied about 5 hours each week and included directly supervised therapy with at least 4 patients having serious mental illness. Patients' symptoms improved significantly after an average of less than 12 one hour therapy sessions. After the programme, case managers began treating patients autonomously, although all recognised the need for some continuing supervision and the necessity of referring unusually complex or challenging cases to clinical psychologists or others highly skilled in the area.