A program to help reduce anxiety and depression in long-term care workers

Reducing the Psychosocial Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Workers of Assisted Living Facilities

NA · Fundació Sant Joan de Déu · NCT05526235

This study is testing a new program to see if it can help long-term care workers who are feeling anxious or depressed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorFundació Sant Joan de Déu (other)
Locations1 site (Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona)
Trial IDNCT05526235 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial evaluates a stepped-care program combining Doing What Matters (DWM) and Problem Management Plus (PM+) to alleviate psychological distress among long-term care workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will receive Psychological First Aid (PFA) and standard care, with the treatment group additionally receiving the stepped-care intervention. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of these interventions in improving mental health outcomes, resilience, and overall wellbeing. Assessments will be conducted online at baseline and two weeks after the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are long-term care workers aged 18 and older experiencing elevated psychological distress.

Not a fit: Patients with severe mental disorders, acute medical conditions, or those currently receiving specialized psychological treatment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the mental health and wellbeing of long-term care workers.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar low-intensity psychological interventions, indicating potential for effectiveness in this population.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years or older;
* Having elevated levels of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) \>15.9).
* Written/digital informed consent before entering the study.
* Being a worker in a long-term care facility or a home care worker in the community of Catalonia.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having acute medical conditions (requiring hospitalization)
* Imminent suicide risk, or expressed acute needs, or protection risks that require immediate follow-up
* Having a severe mental disorder (e.g., psychotic disorders, substance-dependence)
* Having severe cognitive impairment (e.g., severe intellectual disability or dementia)
* Currently specialized psychological treatment (e.g., Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, Cognitive behavioral therapy)
* In case of current psychotropic medication use, being on an unstable dose for at least 2 months.

Where this trial is running

Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Depression, Anxiety, Psychological Distress

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.