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Insights about Psychotherapy Training and Curricular Sequencing: Portal of Discovery

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Abstract

Objective

The authors discuss the curricular implications of a research project originally designed to evaluate the instructional strategy of using standardized patients in a psychotherapy training seminar.

Methods

The original project included second-year residents enrolled in an introductory psychotherapy seminar that employed sequential meetings with standardized patients. Residents were videotaped at baseline and at 6 week intervals; these sessions were rated by outside raters, standardized patients, and the residents themselves using two rating scales designed to assess psychotherapy skill. Results of the ratings were used to assess whether the instructional strategy was effective in teaching psychotherapy.

Results

Data were analyzed for group and individual effects. Results of unpaired t tests revealed that as a group resident performance did not improve. Individual effects were examined using regression analysis of individual learning plots. This analysis revealed that residents differed widely in their individual responses to this instructional technique.

Conclusion

These results precipitated a realization about the curriculum. Despite initial disappointment about the apparent limitations of the technique, thoughtful analysis prompted a reinterpretation that led to residency curriculum modification.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Box 70567, Johnson City, Tenn., 37614, USA

    K. Ramsey McGowen Ph.D.,  Merry Noel Miller M.D. &  Barney Miller Ph.D.

  2. Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA

    Michael Floyd Ed.D.

  3. Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, Tenn., USA

    Brent Coyle M.D.

Authors
  1. K. Ramsey McGowen Ph.D.
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  2. Merry Noel Miller M.D.
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  3. Michael Floyd Ed.D.
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  4. Barney Miller Ph.D.
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  5. Brent Coyle M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Ramsey McGowen Ph.D..

Additional information

The authors wish to acknowledge our research assistants Christine L. Newell, M.Ed., Ph.D., and Zachary A. Hammons, B.S., who provided invaluable assistance on this project.

At the time of submission, Drs. McGowen, M. Miller, Floyd, and B. Miller disclosed no competing interests. Dr. Coyle is on the Speakers’ Bureau for Wyeth and AstraZeneca.

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McGowen, K.R., Miller, M.N., Floyd, M. et al. Insights about Psychotherapy Training and Curricular Sequencing: Portal of Discovery. Acad Psychiatry 33, 67–70 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.33.1.67

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.33.1.67

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