Development of RESTORE: an online intervention to improve mental health symptoms associated with COVID-19-related traumatic and extreme stressors.

BACKGROUND

Frontline healthcare workers, recovered COVID+ patients who had severe illness, and close others of COVID+ patients who have recovered or died are at risk for clinical levels of mental health symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESTORE (ecovering from xtreme tressors hrough nline esources and -health) was specifically designed for this context. RESTORE is a transdiagnostic guided online intervention adapted from evidence-based cognitive-behavioural therapies.

OBJECTIVES

RESTORE was designed to address depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms associated with exposure to COVID-19-related traumatic and extreme stressors, and to overcome multiple barriers to accessing psychotherapies.

METHOD

This paper describes the intervention components and platform, as well as the principles used to develop RESTORE. Current research and future directions in developing and testing RESTORE are outlined.

RESULTS

Preliminary data from an initial uncontrolled trial evaluating RESTORE in frontline healthcare workers is highly promising.

CONCLUSION

We believe RESTORE has great potential to provide accessible, evidence-based psychological intervention to those in great need.