Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training

Background: Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an effective depression treatment but limited numbers of trained providers result in less access than patients need. Asynchronous self-directed digital training may reduce this gap. Methods: We developed digital IPT training and evaluated it in a pilo...

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Main Authors: Paula Ravitz, Natalie Heeney, Andrea Lawson, Edward McAnanama, Clare Pain, Alex Kiss, Priya Watson, Jan Malat, Sophie Grigoriadis, Simone Vigod, Daisy R. Singla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915324001495
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author Paula Ravitz
Natalie Heeney
Andrea Lawson
Edward McAnanama
Clare Pain
Alex Kiss
Priya Watson
Jan Malat
Sophie Grigoriadis
Simone Vigod
Daisy R. Singla
author_facet Paula Ravitz
Natalie Heeney
Andrea Lawson
Edward McAnanama
Clare Pain
Alex Kiss
Priya Watson
Jan Malat
Sophie Grigoriadis
Simone Vigod
Daisy R. Singla
author_sort Paula Ravitz
collection DOAJ
description Background: Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an effective depression treatment but limited numbers of trained providers result in less access than patients need. Asynchronous self-directed digital training may reduce this gap. Methods: We developed digital IPT training and evaluated it in a pilot parallel randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry residents (N=25) in Toronto, Canada, were randomly assigned, 1:1, to an asynchronous self-directed digital course (intervention; n=13) or synchronous group training-as-usual workshop (control; n=12) and then delivered ∼12 clinically-supervised individual IPT sessions to depressed patients (N=26; 10≥PHQ9<20). The primary objective was to examine intervention feasibility and acceptability (retention, facilitators, barriers). We also examined resident competence (IPT knowledge, confidence, clinical skills, therapeutic alliances) and patient depressive outcomes (PHQ9). Results: Resident retention in intervention (10/13; 76.9%) vs control (11/12; 91.7%) groups did not differ (p=.59). Qualitative semi-structured interviews with intervention residents (n=10) revealed that IPT's relational focus, video-recorded expert demonstrations (9/10; 90%), and case-based digital curriculum's user-friendliness (7/10; 70%) were facilitators. Half missed peer interactions in group workshops and found some interactive course elements disrupted learning. Both groups’ competence improved over time (F≥25.7, p≤.0001), with no significant between-arm differences in knowledge, confidence, skills, or therapeutic alliances (F≤1.07, p≥.31). Intervention and control patient groups improved from baseline (PHQ9=14.6 vs. 13.2; F=24.4, p=.0001), with no significant between-arm post-treatment depressive symptom differences (PHQ9=7.63 vs. 7.60, t=-0.01, p=.99). Limitations: Small sample and provider type (psychiatry resident) limit generalizability. Conclusion: Digital asynchronous self-directed IPT training is feasible and acceptable, with preliminary evidence of efficacy for trainee competence and patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-e5a8cae193f14040b6b75b4d18c3527e2024-12-22T05:29:58ZengElsevierJournal of Affective Disorders Reports2666-91532025-01-0119100863Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop trainingPaula Ravitz0Natalie Heeney1Andrea Lawson2Edward McAnanama3Clare Pain4Alex Kiss5Priya Watson6Jan Malat7Sophie Grigoriadis8Simone Vigod9Daisy R. Singla10Sinai Health, Toronto, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Canada; Correspondence author at: Room 941-A, Sinai Health, Department of Psychiatry, 600 University Ave., Toronto Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada.Sinai Health, Toronto, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto CanadaSinai Health, Toronto, CanadaSinai Health, Toronto, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Canada; Women's College Hospital, Toronto, CanadaSinai Health, Toronto, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto CanadaBackground: Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an effective depression treatment but limited numbers of trained providers result in less access than patients need. Asynchronous self-directed digital training may reduce this gap. Methods: We developed digital IPT training and evaluated it in a pilot parallel randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry residents (N=25) in Toronto, Canada, were randomly assigned, 1:1, to an asynchronous self-directed digital course (intervention; n=13) or synchronous group training-as-usual workshop (control; n=12) and then delivered ∼12 clinically-supervised individual IPT sessions to depressed patients (N=26; 10≥PHQ9<20). The primary objective was to examine intervention feasibility and acceptability (retention, facilitators, barriers). We also examined resident competence (IPT knowledge, confidence, clinical skills, therapeutic alliances) and patient depressive outcomes (PHQ9). Results: Resident retention in intervention (10/13; 76.9%) vs control (11/12; 91.7%) groups did not differ (p=.59). Qualitative semi-structured interviews with intervention residents (n=10) revealed that IPT's relational focus, video-recorded expert demonstrations (9/10; 90%), and case-based digital curriculum's user-friendliness (7/10; 70%) were facilitators. Half missed peer interactions in group workshops and found some interactive course elements disrupted learning. Both groups’ competence improved over time (F≥25.7, p≤.0001), with no significant between-arm differences in knowledge, confidence, skills, or therapeutic alliances (F≤1.07, p≥.31). Intervention and control patient groups improved from baseline (PHQ9=14.6 vs. 13.2; F=24.4, p=.0001), with no significant between-arm post-treatment depressive symptom differences (PHQ9=7.63 vs. 7.60, t=-0.01, p=.99). Limitations: Small sample and provider type (psychiatry resident) limit generalizability. Conclusion: Digital asynchronous self-directed IPT training is feasible and acceptable, with preliminary evidence of efficacy for trainee competence and patient outcomes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915324001495Interpersonal psychotherapyDigital trainingMassive open-access online course (MOOC)disseminationdepression
spellingShingle Paula Ravitz
Natalie Heeney
Andrea Lawson
Edward McAnanama
Clare Pain
Alex Kiss
Priya Watson
Jan Malat
Sophie Grigoriadis
Simone Vigod
Daisy R. Singla
Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Digital training
Massive open-access online course (MOOC)
dissemination
depression
title Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training
title_full Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training
title_fullStr Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training
title_full_unstemmed Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training
title_short Scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self-directed vs. synchronous group workshop training
title_sort scaling up interpersonal psychotherapy training a pilot randomized controlled trial of digital asynchronous self directed vs synchronous group workshop training
topic Interpersonal psychotherapy
Digital training
Massive open-access online course (MOOC)
dissemination
depression
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915324001495
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