Effects of a Resiliency Training Program on Immediate Post Program and Long-term Indicators of Burnout in Psychiatry Residents

Background: The prevalence of burnout increases during the training years in most medical residencies. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of burnout and build resiliency through structured programs are underway, and some have been successful. The maintenance of the improvements, when they occur, however, has been little studied. Aims: To test the stability of the short-term improvements one and two years later after a structured intervention in psychiatry residents Methods: Subjects were psychiatry residents who provided informed consent and completed the program. Twenty of twenty-two available residents (90%) completed standardized assessments pre- and post- a six-session program. Sixteen of eighteen and fourteen of sixteen completed the assessments one and two years respectively after the program. Sessions were offered during protected didactic time. The sessions were one-hour in length and focused on stress response awareness, stress reduction, mindfulness, cognitive strategies, managing perceived failures and balancing life. Scores on the assessments completed pre-program, post-program, one-year post-program and two years post-program were compared. Statistical analysis comprised descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. Results: Comparison of pre- and post-program scores showed significant decreases in perceived stress, and burnout. Comparison of post-program and one-year follow-up yielded no significant changes, specifically, no relapse. Comparison of post-program and two years after the program revealed significant increases in the measure of resiliency, and compassion satisfaction and further decreases in perceived stress. There were no increases in any measure of burnout two years after the program. Conclusion: Increases in burnout during residency are expected and well-documented. In contrast, residents who completed this program decreased scores on indicators of burnout and increased scores on indicators of resiliency post-program, which were consistent one and two years later.