Mindfulness como intervención terapéutica para el manejo del estrés en el personal de salud: una revisión
Mindfulness as a therapeutic intervention for stress management in healthcare professionals: a review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56712/latam.v6i3.4241Palabras clave:
mindfulness, atención plena, burnout, estrés laboral, personal de saludResumen
El síndrome de burnout, frecuente en el personal de salud, es una condición compleja asociada al estrés laboral crónico, caracterizada por agotamiento emocional, despersonalización y baja realización personal. Aunque no se reconoce como trastorno clínico en el DSM-5, la OMS lo clasifica como un fenómeno ocupacional. Su diagnóstico suele realizarse mediante el Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Fisiopatológicamente, se correlaciona con la activación continua del eje hipotalámico-hipofisario-adrenal y del sistema nervioso autónomo, lo que conlleva hipercortisolismo agudamente, hipocortisolismo crónicamente, disautonomía, inflamación crónica y disfunciones en los sistemas dopaminérgico, serotoninérgico y noradrenérgico. Las manifestaciones clínicas incluyen síntomas psicológicos como ansiedad, depresión, apatía e irritabilidad; conductuales como absentismo y consumo de sustancias; y físicos como fatiga, insomnio, cefaleas y síntomas gastrointestinales. Ante dicho escenario, el mindfulness se presenta como una intervención terapéutica prometedora, basada en la atención consciente al momento presente sin juicio. Programas estructurados como MBSR y MBCT han demostrado reducir el agotamiento emocional, aumentar la empatía, la autocompasión y el bienestar general. Estudios y metaanálisis recientes evidencian su eficacia en el corto y mediano plazo, aunque los efectos sostenidos a largo plazo aún necesitan más investigación. En conjunto, el mindfulness ofrece una herramienta eficaz, segura y basada en evidencia científica para complementar la terapia del burnout y promover la resiliencia en contextos sanitarios de alta exigencia.
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