The Royal College of Nursing recently published a book in their research series entitled Nursing in Behavioural Psychotherapy (Marks et al., 1977) which reviewed developments in the field. Operational research into nurse-therapy began in 1972 at the Maudsley Hospital. Out of this a national course was formalized in 1975 by the Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies for England and Wales (Course No. 650). Although the formal course lasts 18 months, it is now possible to shorten the training period to one year, followed by six months of lightly supervised practice working in settings away from the training centre. Currently there are two recognized training centres, at the Bethlem/Maudsley and Graylingwell Hospitals, and moves are afoot to start a third programme elsewhere.