Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: An efficacy study for mental health care staff.

Introduction Burnout is a major concern within the NHS impacting negatively on mental healthcare professionals. Evidence suggests that burnout can lead to reduced productivity and reduced quality of care for patients. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating burnout for healthcare professionals; however, no previous research has directly reported correlations between burnout and mindfulness. Aim Does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduce burnout amongst mental healthcare professionals and are there any direct correlations between mindfulness and burnout itself? Method This effectiveness study evaluated a series of 8-week (MBCT) groups adapted for healthcare professionals. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Friedberg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) at pre, post and 6-month follow-up. Results Analysis revealed overall significance and large effect sizes on all three subscales of the MBI and the FMI. There were significant correlations in mindfulness when burnout was reduced. Discussion These results suggest that MBCT groups for healthcare professionals offer a promising intervention for reducing burnout. Implications for Practice Occupational departments could consider MBI's as part of a package of care for mental healthcare staff as a preventative intervention or as a means of reducing burnout amongst healthcare staff.