Feasibility, utility, and acceptability of an online ACT-based rehabilitation for clinical burnout

Abstract

The prevalence of stress-related sick leave in Western society has increased clinical and scientific interest in conditions like clinical burnout. However, evidence-based treatments for clinical burnout remain scarce. This uncontrolled pilot study examined the feasibility, utility, and acceptability of an online rehabilitation program for clinical burnout based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Twenty-six patients with clinical burnout were included in a 12-week online ACT rehabilitation. Self-rated questionnaires were administered pre-treatment, weekly during treatment, post-treatment, and at three- and six-month follow-ups. Independent raters assessed clinical severity, average working time, and functional disability. There were no dropouts and a high module completion rate (85%), demonstrating feasibility. The rehabilitation’s utility was supported by clinical ratings indicating reduced clinical severity, functional disability, and increased working time from 18% at baseline to 75% at the six-month follow-up. Significant improvements were seen in exhaustion, anxiety, depression, psychological flexibility, and perfectionistic concerns with medium to large effect sizes (g = 0.67–1.31) at post-treatment, which were maintained at the six-month follow-up (g = 0.86–1.50). Treatment credibility and satisfaction were high, with few negative effects, indicating high acceptability. These findings suggest that this ACT-based online rehabilitation for clinical burnout holds sufficient promise to warrant further clinical trials.