The Effect of ACT and Float REST on Burnout Syndrome.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In 1982, Steven Hayes, a clinical psychologist, developed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a unique empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. In 1954, John Lilly, a cognitive neuroscientist, developed the sensory deprivation tank (known today as Floatation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy - Float REST), to access a wide range of healing, higher brain functions, and meditation through an unparalleled deep relaxation state. In this study, the investigators aim to examine whether participants in the ACT + Float REST condition will have larger decreases of the burnout phenomenon than those who receive either only ACT or Float REST.

Official Title
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The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Float REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) on Burnout Syndrome.

Conditions
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Burnout Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
* Behavioral: Float REST
* Behavioral: ACT + Float REST


Participation Criteria
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)<br> | Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)<br>* An ACT session entails a mindfulness-based training to foster and nurture effective behavioral and emotional responding to distress.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Float REST<br> | Behavioral: Float REST<br>* A float session entails laying supine in a light-proof, sound-proof tank consisting of a shallow pool of water (approximately 10 inches set to approximately 94.5 degrees to match skin temperature) with a high concentration of Epsom salt (approximately 1200 pounds) for 60 minutes.<br>* Other names: Float Therapy, Isolation Tank, Sensory Deprivation Tank;|
| Experimental: ACT + Float REST<br> | Behavioral: ACT + Float REST<br>* The combined intervention will combine ACT and Float REST. An ACT session entails a mindfulness-based training to foster and nurture effective behavioral and emotional responding to distress. A float session entails laying supine in a light-proof, sound-proof tank consisting of a shallow pool of water (approximately 10 inches set to approximately 94.5 degrees to match skin temperature) with a high concentration of Epsom salt (approximately 1200 pounds) for 60 minutes.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Assessing Change in Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) | A 22 item scale that measures depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment. It is designed for professionals in human services in an array of occupations including nurses, physicians, health aides, social workers, health counselors, therapists, police, correctional officers, clergy, and other fields focused on helping people live better lives by offering guidance, preventing harm, and ameliorating cognitive, emotional, or physical problems. | Metric will be used as screening prior to study intervention; continuous measurement at week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8 and at one month follow-up. |