Prevention of Burnout in Spanish Healthcare Professionals Through Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy (ABCT)

July 7, 2026 updated by: Javier Garcia Campayo, Hospital Miguel Servet

Mindfulness-based and Compassion-based Interventions in Anxious-Depressive Symptomatology in Mental Health Services: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Burnout is a common problem among healthcare professionals and may affect their psychological well-being, quality of life, and professional functioning. This study will examine whether an intensive compassion-based intervention can help reduce burnout and improve well-being in healthcare professionals. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy intervention or a relaxation intervention. Outcomes will be measured before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and three months later.

Attachment-Based Compassion groups will be composed of 80 participants each, and TAU group will be composed of 80 participants (total sample n = 160).

Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey - MBI-HSS. Burnout will be assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. This questionnaire evaluates the three main dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

Items are rated on a Likert-type scale according to the frequency with which the participant experiences each symptom. Scores are calculated separately for each burnout dimension.

In this study, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization will be considered the primary outcome variables, while reduced personal accomplishment will be considered a secondary outcome variable

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

180

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
      • Zaragoza, Spain, 50009
        • Recruiting
        • Miguel Servet University Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Active healthcare professionals (physicians and nurses) of both sexes.
  2. Understanding of spoken and written Spanish.
  3. Availability of a computer and internet connection.
  4. Written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous psychological treatment within the last year, or current psychological treatment.

Presence of a severe uncontrolled medical, infectious, or degenerative disease that may interfere with affective symptoms.

Presence of a mental disorder related to substance dependence/abuse, or any other disease affecting the central nervous system.

Suicide risk, defined as a score of ≥2 on item 9 of the PHQ-9. Scheduled surgical intervention during the course of the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Compassion condition
one weekend group sessions, held Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening and Sunday morning
Behavioral: Attachment-based compassion therapy Compassion

Program consists of 8 session of 120 minutes/session (15-20 people) Written material andsound recordings will be offered as support elements.

The estimated duration of the program is one weekend
Experimental: Relaxation condition
one weekend group sessions, held Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening and Sunday morning
Behavioral: Relaxation program

Relaxation program consists of 8 sessions of 120 minutes/session (15-20 people) Written material and sound recordings will be offered as support elements.

The estimated duration of the program is one weekend

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY (MBI-HSS)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire BCSQ-12
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S)
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S)
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O)
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O)
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - DASS-21
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - DASS-21
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - DASS-21
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - DASS-21
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - DASS-21
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - DASS-21
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
FIVE FACETS MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE FFMQ
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
FIVE FACETS MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE FFMQ
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
FIVE FACETS MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE FFMQ
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
FIVE FACETS MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE FFMQ
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
FIVE FACETS MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE FFMQ
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
FIVE FACETS MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE FFMQ
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General
Time Frame: Three months follow up
In the compassion program group
Three months follow up
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale - General
Time Frame: Three months follow up
In the relaxation program group
Three months follow up
Treatment Received Satisfaction Scale
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Treatment Received Satisfaction Scale
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Treatment Received Satisfaction Scale
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Treatment Received Satisfaction Scale
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Treatment Received Satisfaction Scale
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
Treatment Received Satisfaction Scale
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]
Reduced scale Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (RHSP)
Time Frame: Baseline
In the compassion program group
Baseline
Reduced scale Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (RHSP)
Time Frame: baseline
In the relaxation program group
baseline
Reduced scale Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (RHSP)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the compassion program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Reduced scale Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (RHSP)
Time Frame: Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
In the relaxation program group
Post-treatment 1 weekend from baseline
Reduced scale Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (RHSP)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the compassion program group
Three-months follow-up]
Reduced scale Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (RHSP)
Time Frame: Three-months follow-up]
In the relaxation program group
Three-months follow-up]

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Hospital Miguel Servet

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 7, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 11/2026

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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