Skills-Based Psychotherapy Training for Inpatient Psychiatry Residents: a Needs Assessment and Evaluation of a Pilot Curriculum

Objective The study’s objectives were to assess the psychotherapy interests and needs of psychiatry residents, to develop a psychotherapy didactic curriculum for psychiatry residents on the inpatient service, and to evaluate residents’ self-reported understanding and confidence with skills-based interventions. Methods Psychiatry residents within a major metro region in the Northeast were asked if they would voluntarily participate in a survey to assess their interest and skills. Based on the results of this survey, the authors devised an 8-week course for seventeen residents on the inpatient unit. Topics included general cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), sleep hygiene, behavioral activation, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mind-body skills, and motivational interviewing. Residents completed post-course questionnaires on comprehension and confidence in providing psychotherapy skills using 5-point Likert scales. Results Participants ( N = 39) reported a strong interest in learning psychotherapy and in education focused on inpatient skills-based interventions. At the end of the course, 12/17 (70.6%) participants provided feedback to indicate that 9/12 (75%) respondents experienced increased confidence in therapy skills, 10/12 (83.3%) reported a basic understanding of skills-based psychotherapy, and 10/12 (83.4%) believed they could teach at least one new technique. Conclusion Psychiatry residents in this study overwhelmingly requested additional training focused on skills relevant to inpatient service, and the curriculum the authors developed led to a subjective self-reported understanding of and confidence in providing these psychotherapy skills on the inpatient unit. These very preliminary results suggest that provision of increased skills-based psychotherapy training for inpatient psychiatry residents is important and beneficial within resident education.