The Role of Online Well-Being Therapy in Overcoming Allostatic Overload in Medical Workers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Xiaolei Liu; Penghui Song; Lu Yin; Kun Wang; Boheng Zhu; Xiaomin Huang; Yanyan Niu; Haixia Leng; Qing Xue; Mao Peng; Baoquan Min; Fangfang Shangguan; Peiran Zhang; Wenfeng Zhao; Huang Wang; Jing Lv; Mei Yang; Ping Wang; Dongning Li; Xiaoling Gao; Kun Feng; Keming Yun; Fiammetta Cosci; Hongxing Wang

doi:10.1159/000540924

The Role of Online Well-Being Therapy in Overcoming Allostatic Overload in Medical Workers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Psychother Psychosom. 2024;93(5):316-327. doi: 10.1159/000540924. Epub 2024 Sep 23.

Authors

Xiaolei Liu^{1

2}, Penghui Song¹, Lu Yin³, Kun Wang^{1

4}, Boheng Zhu⁵, Xiaomin Huang⁶, Yanyan Niu⁷, Haixia Leng¹, Qing Xue¹, Mao Peng¹, Baoquan Min¹, Fangfang Shangguan⁸, Peiran Zhang⁹, Wenfeng Zhao¹, Huang Wang¹, Jing Lv¹, Mei Yang¹⁰, Ping Wang¹¹, Dongning Li⁶, Xiaoling Gao¹², Kun Feng¹³, Keming Yun¹⁴, Fiammetta Cosci¹⁵, Hongxing Wang^{1

6

16

17}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neuropsychiatry and Psychosomatics, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Psychosomatic Disease Consultation Center, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China.
² Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
³ National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (NCRC), Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Beijing Puren Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁵ Department of Psychological Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
⁶ Department of Neurology, Ningcheng Center Hospital, Ningcheng, China.
⁷ Department of Orthopedics, Jincheng People's Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Jincheng, China.
⁸ School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
⁹ Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
¹⁰ Department of Psychology, Ningxia Fifth People's Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Shizuishan, China.
¹¹ Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
¹² Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
¹⁴ Shanxi Medical University-BGI Collaborative Center for Future Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
¹⁵ Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
¹⁶ Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
¹⁷ Institute of Special Medical Sciences, School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.

PMID: 39312891
DOI: 10.1159/000540924

Abstract

Introduction: Stress may lead to allostatic overload. Well-being therapy (WBT) might mitigate it by enhancing psychological well-being and protecting from psychological symptoms. Since no reports are available on the use of WBT in allostatic overload, we evaluated online WBT effects in reducing allostatic overload in medical workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Methods: Sixty-six participants with allostatic overload were enrolled and randomly assigned to eight sessions of online WBT (n = 32) or eight sessions of an online psychoeducation program on healthy lifestyle (CON) (n = 34). The primary outcome was the prevalence rate of allostatic overload in the two groups at session 8 (T2). Secondary analyses were performed on changes in the PsychoSocial Index (PSI) and Psychological Well-Being (PWB) scales scores at the same time points. Generalized estimating equation models were employed.

Results: The WBT group showed a significantly lower rate of allostatic overload at T2 than the CON group (28.13% vs. 70.59%, p < 0.001); similar results were found at T1, T3, and T4 (p < 0.001). Compared to CON, WBT produced a significant decrease in psychological distress (p < 0.001) and abnormal illness behavior (p = 0.031), as well as a significant improvement in PWB autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Online WBT may be an effective non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy for individuals with allostatic overload. These findings need to be further validated in different clinical populations.

Keywords: Allostatic overload; Euthymia; Psychological distress; Sleep; Stress; Well-being.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Allostasis* / physiology
Female
Health Personnel*
Humans
Internet-Based Intervention
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Stress, Psychological* / therapy