Ultra-Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (for Routine Primary Care Visits: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Brief Provider Training Workshop

Introduction: Most Americans with symptoms of depression and anxiety receive treatment exclusively from their primary care providers (PCPs). Existing primary care interventions typically do not occur within the initial patient interaction, rely on delivery by mental health specialists, and have lengthy training programs. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of the training workshop for an ultra-brief cognitive-behavioral therapy (UB-CBT) single-session intervention for depression and anxiety symptoms that was developed to address these barriers. Method: The 1-hr UB-CBT training workshop was piloted in 2021 with 38 providers at three adult primary care and five family medicine sites in Vermont. PCPs completed questionnaires after the training workshop. Data were collected in 2021 with a sample of participants who were primarily women (66%) and white (82%). We used a concurrent triangulation design integrating mixed-methods data. Results: Most providers found the training highly feasible and acceptable. The majority agreed or strongly agreed that the workshop provided sufficient training for using the intervention (91%), they were satisfied with the UB-CBT intervention (92%), and the intervention seemed easy to administer (97%). Qualitative findings highlighted that providers especially liked the user-friendliness and general feasibility of the intervention, but had some concerns about time. Discussion: We outlined several steps that will address PCPs' concerns to improve the UB-CBT training experience and intervention. Future research should examine the effectiveness of the UB-CBT intervention.