The prevalence of diagnosed mental health disorders among hospital workers was 7.0%, with 68.1% reporting perceived worsening of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for proactive occupational health interventions.
Key Findings
Results
The prevalence of diagnosed mental health disorders among hospital workers was 7.0%, with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder being the most frequent diagnosis.
Study included 215 employees attending the Health Surveillance Service of Virgen Macarena University Hospital in Seville
Data collected between January 2019 and December 2022
Mixed anxiety-depressive disorder was identified as the most frequent mental health disorder
Authors noted prevalence rates were likely lower than expected due to underdiagnosis and prioritization of COVID-19-sensitive evaluations
Results
The majority of affected healthcare workers required short-term temporary incapacity due to common contingencies, and 36.7% required job adaptations.
Data were collected from occupational health records and a telephone survey including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12)
Results
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 68.1% of healthcare workers reported a perceived worsening in mental health.
Perceived worsening in mental health was more common among alcohol users
Among those receiving treatment, 70.8% required medication adjustments during the pandemic
31.2% of treated workers reported increased analgesic use during the pandemic
Results
The profile of affected healthcare workers was predominantly women around 50 years old, often Assistant Nursing Care Technicians.
This profile was described as consistent with previous literature
The study identified alcohol use, psychiatric medication adjustments, and increased analgesic intake as risk factors
These risk factors were highlighted as warranting proactive interventions
Discussion
Occupational health services were identified as playing a crucial role in early detection, monitoring, and support of healthcare professionals with mental health disorders.
The study used the General Health Questionnaire with 12 items (GHQ-12) as a measurement tool
Healthcare professionals were described as particularly vulnerable due to occupational stressors, with vulnerability intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic
The authors emphasized the need for proactive interventions to sustain the healthcare workforce
Underdiagnosis was flagged as a likely factor contributing to lower-than-expected prevalence rates
What This Means
This research examined the mental health of hospital workers at a university hospital in Seville, Spain, over a four-year period spanning the COVID-19 pandemic. Using medical records and telephone surveys that included a standardized mental health questionnaire, researchers found that 7% of the 215 workers studied had been formally diagnosed with a mental health disorder, with mixed anxiety-depression being the most common. However, the authors believe the true rate is likely higher because many cases go undiagnosed, particularly as resources were diverted to COVID-19 concerns during the pandemic.
The pandemic appeared to take a significant toll on perceived mental well-being: more than two-thirds of workers (68.1%) said they felt their mental health had gotten worse during that period. Workers who used alcohol were more likely to report this worsening. Among those already receiving mental health treatment, roughly 70% needed their medications adjusted, and nearly a third increased their use of painkillers, suggesting the pandemic created additional burden even for those already being managed. Workers most commonly affected were women around age 50, often in nursing support roles.
This research suggests that healthcare workers face meaningful mental health risks tied to their work environment, and that these risks were amplified by the pandemic. The findings point to the importance of occupational health services in proactively screening and supporting healthcare staff, rather than waiting for problems to become severe. The identification of alcohol use and changes in medication or painkiller use as warning signs suggests these could serve as early indicators for intervention programs aimed at protecting the healthcare workforce.
Jiménez-Ortega L, Ladisa M, Delgado-Calderón M, Camacho-Vega J, Vilches-Arenas &, El Khoury-Moreno L, et al.. (2026). Occupational and lifestyle associations with mental health of healthcare workers.. Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000048198