Tailoring the unified protocol for the treatment of burnout: A co-design approach

Burnout persists as an unresolved issue, as the effectiveness of interventions remains a subject of ongoing debate. To address the need for more suitable intervention approaches, this study describes a methodology for adapting the Unified Protocol (UP), an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral intervention, for group-based use to treat burnout. To ensure that the intervention reflected lived experiences, we employed a co-design methodology based on the Experience-Based Co-Design Framework. The sample comprised participants currently experiencing burnout or who had experienced it within the past year (n = 4) and a panel of experts (n = 4) actively working with individuals experiencing burnout. The co-design process included interviews, four feedback sessions, seven iterative co-design sessions, and an expert evaluation. Insights from interviews and feedback sessions informed the adaptation of the intervention. Key modifications included introducing a values-based module, merging two modules into a single session, and adding a new component on cognitive functioning, along with content and technique adjustments tailored to the realities of burnout. The resulting protocol is referred to as the Unified Protocol for Burnout (UP-B), a group-based adaptation of the UP designed for therapeutic use. Future research should examine the feasibility, efficacy, and underlying mechanisms of the intervention.