Conall O’Rourke, Mike Murphy, Erik Montagna, Margaret O’Rourke, Colm O’Tuathaigh
{"title":"Efficacy and Acceptability of Digital and Web-Based Interventions for Stress and Burnout Among Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","authors":"Conall O’Rourke, Mike Murphy, Erik Montagna, Margaret O’Rourke, Colm O’Tuathaigh","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02408-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40596-026-02408-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>The authors aimed to evaluate the efficacy of digital and web-based interventions in reducing stress and burnout among physicians and to examine the acceptability of such interventions among physicians.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A systematic search of PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE, the Cochrane CENTRAL register, and three grey literature sources was conducted from inception to May 8, 2024. Controlled and uncontrolled studies evaluating digital or web-based interventions targeting stress or burnout in qualified physicians were included. Screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment (RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools) were independently conducted by two reviewers.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Twenty-one studies were included in the review. Interventions included digital mindfulness/meditation (<i>n</i> = 8), web-based coaching (<i>n</i> = 5), online learning modules (<i>n</i> = 4), activity prompts (<i>n</i> = 3), and reflective groups (<i>n</i> = 1), with variation in their content and duration. The meta-analysis identified a statistically significant reduction in burnout scores with low heterogeneity (18 comparisons: SMD = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.18, 0.41, <i>p</i> < 0.0001, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 21%), while the pre-post stress intervention data identified a significant reduction in stress scores with high heterogeneity (7 comparisons: SMD = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.89, <i>p</i> < 0.01, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 33%). The between-groups meta-analysis of ten randomised controlled trials found a significant reduction in burnout scores with moderate heterogeneity (10 comparisons: SMD = −0.34, 95% CI = −0.54, −0.14, <i>p</i> < 0.005, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 55%).</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Digital and web-based interventions show promise for reducing physician stress and burnout, though current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, study design heterogeneity, and high attrition.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":"50 5","pages":"600 - 614"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148757191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anxiety in Medical Students: a Pilot Study on Associated Factors.","authors":"Mitesh Patel","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02418-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40596-026-02418-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Anxiety can affect student performance and well-being. This pilot study examined the relationships between anxiety and headache, sleep disturbance, and irritability in first-year medical students 2 months before the end-of-year summative assessment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty-four first-year medical students (18.8% participation, 26 male, 28 female; mean age 20.47 years) completed an anonymous online survey comprising a custom symptom questionnaire and the Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Headache was prevalent, with 66% reporting worsening headache since commencing medical studies; 72% reported reduced sleep and 44% reported increased anxiety. Mean TAI score was 45.98, with 27.7% scoring in the relatively severe/severe range. Increased anxiety was significantly associated with feeling overworked (OR = 3.41, p = 0.049), sleep disturbance (OR = 4.98, p = 0.011), and irritability (OR = 7.71, p < 0.001). Trait anxiety correlated with headache frequency (R = 0.414, p = 0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight elevated anxiety and sleep disturbance during early medical training, underscoring the need for targeted well-being interventions. Medical schools should consider integrating routine mental health check-ins and accessible support pathways to facilitate earlier recognition and management of student anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148719947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adam M. Brenner, Alyssa C. Smith, Rashi Aggarwal, Alan K. Louie, Mary K. Morreale, Richard Balon
{"title":"“Don’t You Ever Be Ashamed”: Loneliness and Psychiatric Training","authors":"Adam M. Brenner, Alyssa C. Smith, Rashi Aggarwal, Alan K. Louie, Mary K. Morreale, Richard Balon","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02420-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40596-026-02420-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":"50 5","pages":"515 - 521"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148719912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samuel Dotson, Gregg A Robbins-Welty, Ann C Schwartz
{"title":"The Great Expansion: Are We on the Verge of a Psychiatry Program Bubble?","authors":"Samuel Dotson, Gregg A Robbins-Welty, Ann C Schwartz","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02416-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-026-02416-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148711057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"One-Hour Educational Session on \"How to Debrief a Traumatic Event\" Increases RN Comfort in Leading Clinical Debriefing.","authors":"Idris Leppla, Karen Abernathy","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02383-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-026-02383-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148704785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann C Schwartz, Caroline Stiles, Ashley K Smith, Gregg A Robbins-Welty
{"title":"A Flipped Classroom Curriculum for Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison Services in a High-Volume Safety-Net Hospital.","authors":"Ann C Schwartz, Caroline Stiles, Ashley K Smith, Gregg A Robbins-Welty","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02417-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-026-02417-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148688363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Man I Run With.","authors":"Eshan M Sayani","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02412-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-026-02412-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148688358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trainee Suicide in a Middle Eastern Teaching Hospital: A Call for National Policy Reform.","authors":"Mohammed Saadeh","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02409-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-026-02409-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148682955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Role of Shame in ADHD: Reflections from Clinical Practice.","authors":"Vania Modesto-Lowe","doi":"10.1007/s40596-026-02410-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-026-02410-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7069,"journal":{"name":"Academic Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148682958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}