Development and evaluation of a treatment manual and course for writing behavior contracts for people with severe mental illnesses

The implementation of a pilot-project for training outpatient mental health staff in empirically-validated therapeutic contracting interventions is described. Thirteen staff members from various community settings were trained in how to design and implement behavior contracts for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The nine-week training was conducted using a structured teaching manual created by the authors. The investigators describe the manual and report on the effectiveness of utilizing a brief seminar-type training format to educate staff about behavior contracting technology. Results provide evidence for the effectiveness of such a manualized training procedure. Specifically, results indicated that staff participants were satisfied with the training, that participants expect that the course will help them in their future work with clients, and that participants' knowledge of materials taught in the course increased. The implications of these results are discussed. Strategies for modifying and implementing similar training programs to disseminate behavior therapy technologies are emphasized.