A randomized trial found that a brief behavioral intervention drastically lowered intrusive memory frequency and reduced PTSD-related symptoms in healthcare workers exposed to trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a scalable solution for trauma care. Study: A guided single session intervention to reduce intrusive memories of work-related trauma: a randomised controlled trial with healthcare workers in the COVID-19 pandemic. Image Credit: Mikhaylovskiy / Shutterstock.
com In a recent study published in BMC Medicine , researchers examine whether a simple cognitive intervention can reduce the effects and frequency of intrusive memories in healthcare workers exposed to traumatic experiences during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Supporting the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers Healthcare workers are often exposed to trauma in the workplace, as they witness patients with severe injuries, as well as those who are dying or dead. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers throughout the world experienced high levels of anxiety, depression, and work-related stress.
Thus, it is crucial to identify different approaches that can effectively reduce these symptoms to improve the well-being of workers, patients, and the healthcare system. Experts often recommend psychological interventions before turning to pharmacological management of these symptoms. These approaches can include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which involves moving.
