A Longitudinal RCT on the Effectiveness of a Psychological Intervention for Hospital Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Learned to Date

Damiano Rizzi; Michela Monaci; Giulia Gambini; Ilaria Maria Antonietta Benzi; Stefano Perlini; Annalisa De Silvestri; Catherine Klersy; Lavinia Barone

doi:10.1007/s10880-023-09988-8

A Longitudinal RCT on the Effectiveness of a Psychological Intervention for Hospital Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Learned to Date

J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2024 Jan 31. doi: 10.1007/s10880-023-09988-8. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Damiano Rizzi^{1

2}, Michela Monaci³, Giulia Gambini², Ilaria Maria Antonietta Benzi³, Stefano Perlini², Annalisa De Silvestri², Catherine Klersy², Lavinia Barone⁴

Affiliations

¹ Fondazione Soleterre Strategie di Pace ONLUS, Milan, Italy.
² IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
³ Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta Adorno Antoniotto, 11, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
⁴ Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta Adorno Antoniotto, 11, 27100, Pavia, Italy. lavinia.barone@unipv.it.

PMID: 38296896
DOI: 10.1007/s10880-023-09988-8

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant psychological distress among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs), with a particular increase in trauma-related symptoms. This study investigated the longitudinal course of trauma-associated symptoms and behaviors in HCWs and the effectiveness of a brief dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)-informed intervention in mitigating these symptoms over 12 months. The trial included 225 HCWs randomly assigned to one of three groups: no intervention (control), in-person DBT-informed intervention, or online DBT-informed intervention. Over time, a natural decrease in PTSD symptoms was observed in all groups. Contrary to expectations, no difference was found between the control and intervention groups. However, for participants with severe PTSD symptoms, the intervention significantly mitigated their distress. No differences emerged between in-person and online interventions, suggesting equal effectiveness. Females reported higher trauma-related symptoms, while no differences emerged among different professional roles. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions for HCWs experiencing severe symptoms and highlight the potential of online modalities. Further research is needed to optimize the deployment of mental health resources within the healthcare setting, particularly during crises.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; DBT-informed psychological intervention; Healthcare workers; RCT longitudinal study.