STRESS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

This article sought to analyze the most recent scientific publications addressing the topics of anxiety, depression, and stress among healthcare professionals working in ICUs. To this end, a scoping review was conducted using the following search strategy: (Anxiety OR Stress OR Depression) AND ("Healthcare Professionals" OR "Healthcare Workers") AND "Intensive Care Unit." Stress, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among healthcare professionals. Among several factors, gender, marital status, professional experience, workload, pandemic contexts, and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in the workplace stand out. Therefore, the urgent need to formulate and implement public and institutional policies that promote the mental health of healthcare professionals and rigorously monitor working conditions is evident. This study does not intend to exhaust the discussions about stress, anxiety, and depression in healthcare workers working in ICUs, but rather to contribute to the understanding of these phenomena in the workplace. Therefore, it is suggested that research be continued, especially with regard to investigating the specific psychosocial factors of this environment, and effective prevention and intervention strategies.