Psychological interventions to reduce burnout and depression in healthcare professionals: a systematic review

Abstract

Health professionals are more susceptible to burnout and associated health problems, particularly depression and anxiety. The objective of this systematic review is to identify which psychological interventions aimed at reducing burnout and depressive symptoms in health professionals are effective and to explore their potential impact on related symptoms, including anxiety. A systematic review was conducted in the ProQuest, PubMed, and Scopus databases, resulting in eight studies. The proposed interventions were based on cognitive-behavioral approaches, mindfulness, and compassion-focused approaches for professionals experiencing mild depressive symptoms and moderate burnout levels. Five of the eight studies showed significant reductions in burnout and depression. However, further research is needed to draw evidence-based conclusions, especially regarding the impact on suicidality.