Effect of Training on Beliefs About Exposure Therapy in Experienced Therapists

Exposure therapy is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and acute or posttraumatic stress disorder. Despite its effectiveness, exposure therapy is underutilized in situations in which it could be beneficial for patients. Negative beliefs about exposure therapy in therapists may partly explain this. This study therefore investigated the effect of a one-day training in exposure therapy on beliefs about exposure therapy in 81 experienced therapists with mostly cognitive behavioral orientations. In addition, anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty were tested as predictors of this effect. Results showed that a one-day training had a significant moderate positive effect on therapist beliefs about exposure therapy. The magnitude of this effect was not predicted by anxiety sensitivity or intolerance of uncertainty in therapists. Further research is needed that includes control conditions and longer posttest intervals, investigates the effect of exposure training in therapists with different theoretical orientations, and examines if changes in beliefs about exposure therapy mediate the effect of exposure training on actual therapist behaviors.