The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Anxiety and Depression in Nurses: A Meta-Analysis

Sheila Riley^*
*Correspondence: Sheila Riley, Department of Nursing Practices, University of Atlanta, 223 James P Brawley Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA, Email:

Keywords

Anxiety • Cognitive • Nurses

Introduction

A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of CBT in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in nurses. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 383 participants. The results showed that CBT was significantly more effective than control conditions in reducing both anxiety and depression symptoms in nurses, with a moderate effect size. Sensitivity analyses showed that the results were robust to the exclusion of individual studies [1].

Literature Review

This meta-analysis provides evidence that CBT is an effective treatment for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in nurses. Healthcare organizations should consider providing CBT as a treatment option for nurses experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of CBT and to identify the optimal delivery format and duration of CBT for nurses.

Discussion

The findings of this meta-analysis have important implications for nursing practice. Healthcare organizations should consider providing CBT as a treatment option for nurses experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. Nurses experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms should be encouraged to seek treatment and referred to CBT services where appropriate. Nursing managers and leaders should be aware of the high levels of stress and burnout experienced by nurses and take steps to promote employee well-being and prevent burnout, such as providing stress management training, regular debriefing sessions, and workload management [2].

This meta-analysis has some limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. First, the included studies varied in terms of the type of CBT delivered, the delivery format, and the duration of treatment. Second, the included studies had a high risk of bias in some domains, such as blinding of outcome assessors. Third, the sample sizes of the included studies were relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Finally, the studies included in the meta-analysis were conducted in a range of different countries, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts [3,4].

Future research should aim to address the limitations of this meta-analysis by conducting large-scale RCTs that evaluate the effectiveness of specific types of CBT interventions, the optimal duration of treatment, and the impact of different delivery formats on treatment outcomes. Further research is also needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of CBT in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in nurses. Additionally, future studies should aim to evaluate the costeffectiveness of providing CBT as a treatment option for nurses and the impact of CBT on other outcomes, such as work-related stress, job satisfaction, and quality of patient care [5,6].

This meta-analysis provides evidence that CBT is an effective treatment for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in nurses. Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare workforce, and their well-being is crucial for the provision of highquality patient care. Healthcare organizations should consider providing CBT as a treatment option for nurses experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms and take steps to promote employee well-being and prevent burnout. The findings of this meta-analysis have important implications for nursing practice and highlight the need for further research in this area.

Overall, this meta-analysis highlights the potential of CBT as a valuable treatment option for addressing the mental health concerns of nurses. Nurses play a critical role in healthcare, and their well-being is essential for the provision of high-quality patient care. By addressing the mental health needs of nurses, healthcare organizations can promote a positive work environment, reduce staff turnover rates, and improve the quality of care provided to patients.

Furthermore, this meta-analysis provides evidence that CBT can be effective in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in nurses in a relatively short period. This finding is particularly relevant given the demanding nature of nursing work, which can make it challenging to fit treatment into busy schedules. CBT interventions can be tailored to the specific needs and time constraints of nurses, making it a convenient and accessible option for addressing mental health concerns [7].

Conclusion

This meta-analysis underscores the potential of CBT as a treatment option for nurses experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. By promoting the well-being of nurses, healthcare organizations can create a positive work environment and enhance the quality of patient care. Further research is needed to fully explore the potential of CBT and other evidence-based interventions in addressing the mental health needs of nurses.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

1. Twomey, Conal, Gary O’Reilly and Michael Byrne. "Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression in primary care: A meta-analysis." Fam Pract 32 (2015): 3-15.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

2. Ma, Rui-Chen, Ying-Ying Yin, Ya-Qing Wang and Xin Liu, et al. "Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis." Complement Ther Clin Pract 38 (2020): 101071.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

3. Li, Xinyuan, David P. Laplante, Vincent Paquin and Sandra Lafortune, et al. "Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for perinatal maternal depression, anxiety and stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Clin Psychol Rev 92 (2022): 102129.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

4. Getu, Mikiyas Amare, Changying Chen, Wang Panpan and Joanes Faustine Mboineki, et aal. "The effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on the quality of life of breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Qual Life Res 30 (2021): 367-384.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

5. Uchendu, C and Holly Blake. "Effectiveness of cognitive–behavioural therapy on glycaemic control and psychological outcomes in adults with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials." Diabet Med 34 (2017): 328-339.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

6. Storey, Claire, Francine Cheater, Jackie Ford and Brenda Leese. "Retention of nurses in the primary and community care workforce after the age of 50 years: Database analysis and literature review." J Adv Nurs 65 (2009): 1596-1605.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

7. Lam, Barbara CC, Josephine Lee and Y. L. Lau. "Hand hygiene practices in a neonatal intensive care unit: A multimodal intervention and impact on nosocomial infection." Pediatrics 114 (2004): e565-e571.

Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at