Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice: A Study of a Protocol for CBT Dissemination and Implementation in a Community Mental Health Center

This study tested a dissemination and implementation protocol for delivering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression to therapists within a community mental health center (CMHC). Twelve therapists and 116 patients participated, and patients received either Treatment as Usual (TAU, n = 74) or CBT (n = 42). Therapist CBT competence was measured using the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale (CTRS), and patients' symptomatology was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-2 (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Over the course of the study, therapist CTRS scores increased significantly while patients' BDI-II and BAI scores showed a larger decrease when treated with CBT. This data suggests that the significant increase in therapist CBT competence may explain the significant decreases in patients' reported depression and anxiety symptoms when receiving CBT compared to TAU. This study demonstrated that CBT could be successfully disseminated and effectively implemented to improve patient outcomes within a CMHC.