Prevalence of mental health symptoms and potential risk factors among Austrian psychotherapists

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 3888
• Main Authors: Schaffler, Yvonne, Probst, Thomas, Pieh, Christoph, Haid, Barbara, Humer, Elke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.02.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/477; 692/1807; 692/700; 692/700/3160; Anxiety; Depression; Exercise; Humanities and Social Sciences; Insomnia; Mental disorders; Mental health; multidisciplinary; Physical activity; Psychotherapist; Risk factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sleep disorders; Stress; Therapists; Well being; Physical activity; Insomnia; Mental health; Income; Depression; Anxiety; Psychotherapist; Stress
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54372-7

This research focused on the intricacies of mental health within the psychotherapist community, a domain currently understudied. A recent study suggests a better overall mental health profile for Austrian psychotherapists compared to the general population. However, a substantial proportion of psychotherapists still exhibited scores beyond the cut-off for clinically significant mental disorders, potentially undermining the efficacy of patient outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April to June 2023, enrolling a cohort of 502 Austrian psychotherapists (79.7% female; mean age: 53.4 ± 9.26 years). The analysis leveraged indicators for symptoms of depression (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), insomnia (ISI-2), stress (PSS-4), and overall well-being (WHO-5). Key correlations were revealed using multivariable logistic regressions incorporating sociodemographic, work-related, and health behavior variables. Mental health symptoms in psychotherapists were associated with lower income, lesser physical activity, employment in outpatient facilities, less experience in the field, and a smaller patient load. Notably, physical activity emerged as a significant protective component, underscoring regular exercise as a vital self-care routine for psychotherapists. Adequate income also presented as a crucial contributor to mental health stability. These findings augment our understanding of the complex dynamics influencing psychotherapists' mental health, potentially enhancing their well-being and optimizing professional output.