The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of two behavioral interventions: brief cognitive-behavioral therapy and crisis intervention therapy through telepsychiatry, over the level of perceived stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in medical residents and medical staff at three hospitals in two cities of Honduras.
The psychotherapeutic interventions are going to be delivered from June to August at each participating center. Subjects will be allocated randomly in each of the two interventional arms independently by stratification in each participating center. The population for intervention will be medical staff from three different national hospitals in the frontline during the pandemic. After valid informed consent, a screening process will take place to identify symptoms as baseline evaluation using validated self-assessment tools delivered through electronic invitation. Post-intervention measurements will take place at 3 and 6 months from baseline. Intention to treat analysis and per-protocol analysis will take place. CONSORT guidelines were followed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
236
9 structured psychotherapy sessions, weekly, 60-90 minutes duration. Provided by one therapist and one co-therapist. Provided through telepsychiatry.
3 structured sessions of crisis intervention. One session each week for three weeks. Provided by one therapist and one co-therapist. Provided through telepsychiatry.
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán Department, Honduras
Rate reduction in Depressive symptoms
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 scale (PHQ-9), a 9 item scale with a score range from 0 to 27. A higher score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: 6 months after psychotherapeutic intervention has started
Rate reduction in Anxiety symptoms
General Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale (GAD-7), a 7 item scale with a score range from 0 to 21. A higher score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: 6 months after psychotherapeutic intervention has started
Rate reduction in Post traumatic Stress symptoms
Post-traumatic Stress Scale for DSM-5 (PCL-5), a 20 item scale with a score range from 0 to 80. A higher score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: 6 months after psychotherapeutic intervention has started
Rate reduction in Perceived stress level
Perceived stress scale (PSS), a 10 item scale with a score range from 0 to 40. A higher score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: 6 months after psychotherapeutic intervention has started
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