Feasibility and Acceptability of the Unified Protocol for Burnout

Implementing the Unified Protocol for Burnout (UP-B): A Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

The present study has three primary objectives: (1) to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Unified Protocol for Burnout (UP-B) an intervention derived from the Unified Protocol (Barlow et al., 2018); (2) to assess the acceptability of the intervention among both recipients and psychotherapists; and (3) to examine preliminary signals of the UP-B's efficacy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Is the intervention feasible as indicated by recruitment rates, data collection procedures, and acceptable rates of participant retention and treatment completion?
2. Is the UP-B acceptable for both participants and psychotherapists considering content, content structure, mode of delivery, and adherence?
3. Does the UP-B show preliminary evidence of effectiveness (i.e., efficacy signals) in reducing burnout, anxiety, depression, and increasing well-being?

This research employs a single-arm, open-label trial design with a one-month follow-up assessment. In addition, two post-intervention focus groups will be conducted-one with participating psychotherapists and one with participants-to explore potential barriers to implementation and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the intervention.

The Unified Protocol for Burnout consists of eight modules delivered in a group format, with approximately eight participants per group. The intervention is administered across eight two-hour sessions and is designed to treat clinical burnout. Participants will learn a set of transdiagnostic skills aimed at improving their ability to manage burnout and associated symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. These skills include mindful emotion awareness, cognitive flexibility, and strategies for countering maladaptive emotional behaviors.

The psychotherapists involved in the study (n= 3) will receive specialized training in the Unified Protocol and will be supervised throughout the intervention by two licensed clinical psychologists and psychotherapists with extensive experience in developing and implementing the Unified Protocol.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants must score above the moderate burnout threshold on the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) to be considered eligible. Those who meet this cutoff will subsequently undergo a structured clinical interview to verify the presence of clinical burnout symptoms. The interview will assess whether the symptom profile is consistent with clinical burnout and will document the onset, progression, and course of symptoms. To be considered eligible for the study, the cause of symptoms must be burnout.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current engagement in psychotherapy, defined as receiving ongoing psychological treatment at the time of screening;
• Current use of psychotropic medication (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers);
• Presence of a diagnosed personality disorder and as determined by the clinical interview;
• Presence of a psychiatric disorder;
• Presence or history of a psychotic disorder;
• Suicidal ideation, as assessed through the clinical interview.