ACT-based Stress Management Training Aimed at Improving Workers’ Mental Health in an Intensive Care Unit: A Mixed Methods Study1

Abstract

Intensive care units (ICUs) are stressful environments in which pain and human suffering are often experienced alongside great pressure and temporary urgency to perform work (van Mol et al., 2015). In these cases, health professionals are subject to extreme stress and work overload, and are often exposed during their work to occupational risk factors that have the potential to affect their mental health and psychological well-being over time (Gómez-Martínez et al., 2015). In fact, the literature has shown that, within ICUs, professionals may experience psychological problems such as burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression (Gómez-Martínez et al., 2015;van Mol et al., 2015). Nevertheless, many health professionals do not benefit from interventions introduced by psychology professionals in their organizations to improve their levels of mental health and psychological well-being, which could have serious consequences for workers, patients, and organizations (Bond et al., 2010;Waters et al., 2018).Psychosocial interventions to reduce stress and increase workers' well-being can take two main forms (Van der Klink et al., Clínica y Salud (2021) xx(x) xx-xx

Effects and Mechanisms of a Web- and Mobile-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Nurses: Fully Decentralized Randomized Controlled Trial

“…There are few studies on ACT interventions for nurses with anxiety or depression symptoms. A study involving 22 intensive care unit medical and nursing staff found that ACT-based stress management training significantly improved participants’ levels of depression symptoms (effect size=0.280), but not anxiety symptoms (effect size=0.069) [ 55 ]. Another recent study conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak showed that a group-based ACT intervention improved mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression, among clinical nurses [ 56 ].…”

Strategies for Supporting Healthcare Workers’ Resilience and Mental Health During A Pandemic: A Scoping Review

“…These may take the form of personal management, including taking breaks during shift changes, initiating and maintaining a healthy diet, maintaining mineral water consumption, exercising, employing self-relaxation techniques, engaging in recreational activities, maintaining social relationships with family and friends, expressing emotions constructively, and avoiding hoax information related to COVID-19. In addition, counseling activities with experts and training/education related to stress management are known to have good effectiveness (Blanco-Donoso et al, 2021;de Pinho et al, 2021;Nathan et al, 2021;Rees et al, 2020).…”

Mindfulness on Daily Life Coping in People Experiencing Psychosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In addition, further research should explore how other cognitive variables, for example resilience ( Pérez-Aranda et al., 2021 ) or transdiagnostic processes ( Ramos et al., 2020 ), may mediate the effect of mindfulness in people experiencing psychosis. Further studies should also consider extending mindfulness to participants’ caregivers as it has beneficial effects for caregivers of people experiencing chronic disorders ( Blanco-Donoso et al., 2021 ; Calvete et al., 2021 ; Strauss et al., 2021 ). It is important to note that mindfulness applied to persistent psychotic symptoms is a tool for developing a mindset against distress and suffering, not just a soothing exercise that has become mere fashion ( Errasti-Pérez, Al-Halabí, López-Navarro, & Pérez-Álvarez ).…”