Development and validation of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills Scale among college students. Issue 2 (5th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sakata, Masatsugu; Toyomoto, Rie; Yoshida, Kazufumi; Luo, Yan; Nakagami, Yukako; Aoki, Shuntaro; Irie, Tomonari; Sakano, Yuji; Suga, Hidemichi; Sumi, Michihisa; Muto, Takashi; Shiraishi, Nao; Sahker, Ethan; Uwatoko, Teruhisa; Furukawa, Toshi A
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based mental health. Volume 24:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 70
• Page End: 76
• Publication Date: 2021-01-05
• Subjects: depression & mood disorders; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1136/ebmental-2020-300217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1362-0347

Abstract

Abstract : Background: There are many different skill components used in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, there is currently no comprehensive way of measuring these skills in patients. Objective: To develop a comprehensive and brief measure of five main CBT skills: self-monitoring, behavioural activation, cognitive restructuring, assertiveness training and problem-solving. Methods: University students (N=847) who participated in a fully factorial randomised controlled trial of smartphone CBT were assessed with the CBT Skills Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the short form of the Japanese Big Five Scale. Structural validity was estimated with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency evaluated with Cronbach's α coefficients. Construct validity was evaluated with the correlations between each factor of the CBT Skills Scale, the PHQ-9, the GAD-7 and the Big Five Scale. Findings: The EFA supported a five-factor solution based on the original instruments assessing each CBT skill component. The CFA showed sufficient goodness-of-fit indices for the five-factor structure. The Cronbach's α of each factor was 0.75–0.81. Each CBT skills factor was specifically correlated to the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the Big Five Scale. Conclusions: The CBT Skills Scale has a stable structural validity and internal consistency with a five-factor solution and appropriate content validity concerning the relationship with depression, anxiety and personality. Clinical implications: The CBT Skills Scale will be potential predictor and effect modifier in studying the optimisation of CBT interventions. Trial registration: CTR-000031307.