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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Preventing Physician Burnout

Research shows that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction can significantly improve the psychological health outcomes of healthcare professionals, helping them cope with the challenges of their demanding work.

National studies show that about 50% of healthcare workers experience burnout. 

Research also shows that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can significantly improve the psychological health outcomes of healthcare professionals, helping them cope with the challenges of their demanding work.

What is Physician Burnout?

According to the American Medical Association, Physician burnout is a long‑term stress reaction that can include emotional exhaustion, lack of empathy towards patients, and feelings of decreased personal achievement. It is a condition that affects all specialties and all practice settings.

What is MBSR?

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a program developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 to help individuals manage stress. Originally created for stress relief, MBSR has since proven effective as a complementary treatment for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, skin disorders, chronic pain, immune system dysfunction, hypertension, and diabetes.

MBSR teaches participants formal mindfulness meditation techniques to alleviate the physical and emotional suffering associated with these disorders. Today, more than 200 medical centers worldwide offer MBSR as an alternative or complementary treatment option.

Dr. Robert Goldman, MD, PhD DO, World Chairman of the International Medical Commission and founder of the International Sports Hall of Fame, is a strong proponent of mindfulness. 

“I encourage everyone to add meditation and mindfulness to their daily routine. It takes a lot of discipline and focus, but it’s worth the effort. This will help keep you healthier, younger, and will give you greater mental clarity and a sense of peace.”

From Neurosurgery to Burnout

Dr. Joseph Maroon, MD, FACS, a board-certified neurosurgeon with over 40 years of clinical experience at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, has firsthand experience with burnout. After a decade of success, Dr. Maroon reached a breaking point and found himself flipping burgers at a family-owned truck stop, a decision spurred by severe burnout.

This experience, however, strengthened his resolve and equipped him with insights and tools for managing stress. Returning to neurosurgery, Dr. Maroon now advocates for practices like mindfulness meditation, cultivating a supportive peer network, and resilience training to combat burnout.

Stopping Burnout Before it Starts

One approach is to tackle physician burnout before it starts by implementing stress-reduction interventions in medical school. Max Clary, Stanford MD Candidate, and neonatal healthcare researcher, has had success applying meditation as a stress-reduction technique. According to Clary,

“I do think meditation and mindfulness are approaches that can be extremely helpful for medical school and beyond for physician burnout. One of the primary drivers for the burnout I see is the result of drowning from a workload where there are not enough doctors for all the patients that need care.”

“Mindfulness has been helpful for me to refocus on why I am sitting in front of my patient in the first place. It helps me take out the noise so that I can listen to my patient and think clearly about what’s going on, and what I can offer to help them. I also think that meditation is extremely helpful in building the skill to be mindful and make decisions from an aware place.”

App-Based Mindfulness Interventions

The Unwinding Anxiety app, developed by Dr. Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, of Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, has shown promising results in reducing burnout among healthcare professionals. Dr. Brewer, who collaborated with Dr. Kabat-Zinn on MBSR, drew on these experiences to create three mindfulness-based apps, including Unwinding Anxiety.

In a study involving physicians experiencing anxiety, the app contributed to a 57% reduction in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scores after three months. (The GAD-7 is a tool for tracking anxiety symptoms in individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.)

The Unwinding Anxiety app is a mindfulness-based behavioral intervention that trains users to apply mindful awareness to moments of anxiety. This helps them observe and “ride out” anxious feelings while rewiring habitual thought patterns that perpetuate stress.

A pilot study evaluating this app’s effectiveness in reducing physician anxiety suggested a positive correlation between decreased anxiety and reduced burnout in healthcare providers, highlighting the app’s potential to address both issues simultaneously.

Dr. David Arterburn, MD, MPH, Internal Medicine Physician and international obesity research leader, also found the app highly effective, stating, “I’ve found that it has been more helpful to me in a few months than many years of psychotherapy combined.” Inspired by this success, Dr. Arterburn began conducting his own research on mindfulness-based interventions for weight loss.

Conclusion

While initial findings are encouraging, further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of app-based interventions in reducing physician burnout. Additionally, developing cost-effective and free resources will be critical to ensure healthcare workers have broad access to stress reduction tools.

Hospitals and medical employers also have a responsibility to ensure that medical professionals have access to the support and resources they need. This includes making sure the work schedule allows for ample breaks and time off, which is crucial for physicians to implement self-care strategies.

Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Brewer is a paid advisor to Sharecare, the company that owns the Unwinding Anxiety app used in these studies. This affiliation has been disclosed in all related research publications.


This article was written for WHN by Max Silverberg who is a published author and health advocate with a background in psychology, meditation, and martial arts. As the founder of wellness-focused programs, he combines modern behavioral science with ancient practices like fasting and meditation to promote sustainable well-being. Max has been featured on podcasts and facilitated workshops on behavioral design and healthy living. Through his writing, he empowers readers to improve their mental and physical health with practical, evidence-based insights.

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Content may be edited for style and length.

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