The aim of this study was to examine the possible relationship between physical and psychological aggression suffered in the workplace and professional burnout, depression and anxiety suffered by healthcare professionals of the emergency services. Methods: 315 physicians, nurses, orderlies and ambulance drivers of Critical Care and Emergency Devices (CCED) in the Andalusian Public Health System, in the province of Granada (Spain) participated. They were interviewed about the exposure to violence at work and answered a battery of questions that measured burnout, depression and anxiety. Results: Physical aggression was significantly related to emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment at work, depression and anxiety. Psychological aggression was associated with personal accomplishment. Logistic regression showed that the CCED professionals who have suffered physical aggression were 4.2 and 2.6 times more likely to have suffered anxiety and reduced personal accomplishment, respectively, than those who did not suffer physical aggression. On the other hand, feelings of anxiety and reduced personal accomplishment increase the professionals’ risk (3.4 and 2.1 times more likely, respectively) of suffering from physical aggression. Conclusion: The results suggest that exposure to violence is related to the other psychological problems tested: emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment (two components of burnout), depression and anxiety. In addition, physical violence is a risk factor for anxiety and diminished personal accomplishment of the CCED professionals.

The effectiveness of a group intervention program to reduce psychological problems in relatives living with patients with severe mental disorders was evaluated. Attended eight mothers and one father whose adult children were receiving treatment in a Mental Health Day Hospital. They followed the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Perceived Stress Scale, the SF-36 Health Survey, the Coping Strategies Inventory, and the Assertiveness Inventory. They attended 20 sessions of group psychological acceptance and development of skills-based treatment. Following the completion of the program, the level of depression in the parents decreased significantly, assertive conduct increased, as did the use of coping strategies aimed at the solution of problems. The relatives rated the program as useful, applied what they have learned to their daily lives, decreased the levels of psychological discomfort, and the majority applied what they have learned to what they value most. Concluding the program was successful in decreasing depression among patients’ relatives and in increasing their adaptive coping skills. Nevertheless, more studies are needed in order to overcome some limitations such as the size of the cohort and the lack of a control group.