(PS8-95) Effectiveness of Online Therapy for Depression in Healthcare Workers: Influence of Job Role and Clinical Status

Abstract Text: Introduction. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) has received growing attention, as they face an elevated risk of mental health conditions, including depression. A recent meta-analysis of 158 studies found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms is significantly higher among HCWs (31%) compared to the general population (25%; Blasco-Belled et al., 2022). Despite this, few studies have examined the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for treatment-seeking HCWs with mental health disorders. Importantly, most of the prior studies have focused on specific subgroups (e.g., nurses) or considered HCWs as a single group. However, job roles in healthcare are diverse, and the vulnerability to experience mental health symptoms may vary as a function of job role. Thus, a nuanced understanding of HCW mental health is warranted, given that optimal mental health functioning is critical for providing quality patient care. The present study addresses this gap by examining differences in depression severity across HCW job roles at pre-treatment and post-treatment, as well as assessing treatment outcomes and perceived improvement following online CBT.
Methods. Participants were 397 HCWs enrolled in a behavioral health service at a New York City hospital between March 2022 and December 2024. Depressive symptoms were assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) prior to receiving up to 25 weekly online CBT sessions, as well as at each month until treatment completion.
Results. Pre-treatment depression scores were significantly higher among non-clinical staff (M = 9.07, SD = 6.06, n = 100) compared to clinical staff (M = 7.31, SD = 5.61, n = 208), t(306) = -2.51, p = .013. Additionally, depression scores differed significantly by job role, F(4, 178) = 3.454, p = .010. Specifically, administrators had higher depression scores (M = 9.44, SD = 5.31) compared to physicians (M = 5.28, SD = 4.80), p = .004. Regarding treatment outcomes, for all participants, depression symptoms significantly declined from baseline (M = 10.2, SD = 4.7) to follow-up, with a mean reduction of 4.3 points (SD = 4.4, p < .001). Recovery rates (≥50% reduction in depression scores) did not significantly differ between job role groups. However, non-clinical staff reported significantly greater subjective improvement than clinical staff, t(144) = -2.126, p = .035.
Conclusion. Clinical status and specific job role appear to influence depression severity and perceived improvement from online CBT. Further research should explore factors (e.g., financial stress, workplace support) contributing to these differences. Identifying contributing factors may help inform targeted interventions to address the unique needs of HCW groups.