# Web Based Therapist Training on Complicated Grief Therapy

> **NIH NIH R41** · CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATION · 2020 · $249,318

## Abstract

Complicated Grief (CG) is a prevalent and debilitating disorder associated with significant distress and
impairment. It differs from major depression in its treatment and symptomatology. CG is listed in DSM5 as a
subtype of Trauma and Greif Disorder. The World Health Organization will include CG as a stand-alone
disorder in ICD11, and it is expected that the DSM 5.1 subcommittee will follow suit. Traditional forms of
therapy have not been successful in the treatment of CG. However a short-term, manualized Complicated
Grief Treatment (CGT) has been developed and found efficacious in three large NIMH sponsored randomized
controlled trials. As with other evidence based treatments (EBTs), lack of dissemination and implementation is
a major issue, due in large part to a shortage of trained clinicians. Facilitating access to training in EBTs has
been identified as a national priority by both mental health professional organizations and NIMH. One way to
help disseminate therapist training on EBT of CG is through the use of new technologies. In prior NIMH-funded
studies, we have shown that internet-based technologies can successfully train clinicians in EBTs, improving
both didactic knowledge, clinical skills, and patient treatment outcomes. In the current application, we will use
new technologies to develop a comprehensive on-line therapist training protocol for CGT consisting of three
components: 1) An interactive on-line tutorial covering the didactic material; 2) Live, web-based
videoconference group supervision following didactic training to practice and reinforce skills; 3) A patient app to
help facilitate implementation of CGT including automated text-messaging system to provide messages of
encouragement and support to patients between sessions, and improve homework compliance. Thirty
clinician-trainees will be recruited. Trainees will take the on-line tutorial at their own pace, followed by 3 live
group videoconference supervision sessions. Pre- and post-training measures of didactic knowledge and
clinical skill, and evaluations of user-satisfaction will be obtained. The patient app will be developed in parallel
to the training package, and follow a parallel but separate evaluation process. Evaluation of the patient app
will be done through focus groups with 16 patients recruited from the practices of therapists who are currently
providing CGT. Patients will be provided access to the patient app and will explore the app for two weeks,
after which they will attend a focus group to obtain their feedback. A focus group of CGT therapists will also be
used to evaluate the app. In phase I, we will evaluate feasibility, user satisfaction, and generate pilot data on
the effectiveness of these components in improving knowledge and skill. We will also have ongoing meetings
with the Director of the NYS Division of Behavioral Health Services in order to recruit phase I patients and lay
the groundwork for phase II, where we will integrate and test the trainin...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9892031
- **Project number:** 5R41MH118126-02
- **Recipient organization:** CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth A Kobak
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $249,318
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-12 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9892031

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9892031, Web Based Therapist Training on Complicated Grief Therapy (5R41MH118126-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9892031. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*