Being a Psychotherapist in Times of the Novel Coronavirus Disease: Stress-Level, Job Anxiety, and Fear of Coronavirus Disease Infection in More Than 1,500 Psychotherapists in Austria

Abstract

This study investigated stress-level, degree of job-related anxiety, and fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection in psychotherapists in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria. One thousand five hundred and forty-seven psychotherapists participated in an online survey, assessing stress [Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)], work-related worries and fears of existence [Job Anxiety Scale (JAS)], fear of COVID-19 infection during face-to-face psychotherapy, and adherence to five protective measures against COVID-19 infection during face-to-face psychotherapy. Stress-levels were higher than in a representative sample ( p < 0.001). When psychotherapy was the sole income, stress-level ( p = 0.020) and job anxiety ( p < 0.001) were higher. Experiences with teletherapy, the psychotherapy format used during COVID-19, as well as reductions in number of patients treated during COVID-19, had no effect on stress-level or job anxiety. Psychotherapists still conducting face-to-face psychotherapy during COVID-19 reported less fear of infection compared to those conducting no face-to-face psychotherapy ( p < 0.001), whereby the fear of infection was further reduced when they were more able to adhere to protective measures against COVID-19 ( p < 0.01). Mental hygiene is important for psychotherapists to manage stress and job-related anxiety during COVID-19, especially in those whose income relies on psychotherapy.

Lessons From the First Wave of COVID-19: Work-Related Consequences, Clinical Knowledge, Emotional Distress, and Safety-Conscious Behavior in Healthcare Workers in Switzerland

“…Even being depicted as “heroes” by the media can in fact be counterproductive, as it increases their perceived pressure ( Cox, 2020 ). This situation can significantly affect their mental health and even lead to work-related trauma ( Probst et al, 2020 ; Vagni et al, 2020 ). Many healthcare workers have been documented to have developed mental issues for which they require psychological support ( Lai et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Several studies in the international literature have given insight on personal protective equipment ( Park, 2020 ), specific work risks for healthcare workers related to COVID-19 ( Ali S. et al, 2020 ), and psychological coping mechanisms (see e.g., Muller et al, 2020 ; Probst et al, 2020 ; Teo et al, 2020 ; Vagni et al, 2020 ). Further studies have shed light on risk perception and attitudes towards COVID-19 (see e.g., Führer et al, 2020 ; Hager et al, 2020 ; Honarvar et al, 2020 ; Zegarra-Valdvia et al, 2020 ).…”

Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria

“…Also, forefront healthcare workers reported perception of the detrimental impact of COVID-19 on mental health [ 7 , 8 ]. A previous study conducted on psychotherapists during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria revealed a higher stress level compared to a representative German sample [ 9 ]. However, the mental well-being and stress level of volunteer helpers—such as counselors of telephone emergency services—have not been evaluated so far.…”

“…Furthermore, several studies addressed mental well-being in the general population, in individuals with pre-existing psychiatric disorders, as well as in forefront healthcare workers, as summarized above. Also in Austria, mental health in the general population as well as in psychotherapists has been assessed before [ 5 , 6 , 9 ]. However, the mental well-being and subjective stress level of voluntary counselors of TES have not been evaluated so far.…”

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changes the Subjective Perception of Meaning Related to Different Areas of Life in Austrian Psychotherapists and Patients

“…In the short term, the need to adapt the format of how psychotherapy is provided might pose a specific challenge (i.e., to provide psychotherapy via the internet or telephone with all its technical and legal challenges [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]). We recently reported that during the first weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria, the average number of patients treated per week decreased and face-to-face sessions were largely substituted by sessions via telephone or internet [ 15 ]; however, despite these challenges psychotherapists were exposed to in the early weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak in Austria, job-related worries and fears of existence, as well as stress level, were neither affected by the extent of the reduction in the number of patients treated nor by the format of how psychotherapy was provided during the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria [ 17 ].…”