Burnout phenomenon: neurophysiological factors, clinical features, and aspects of management

Summary & key facts

Burnout is described as an occupational phenomenon of long-term work stress that leads to emotional exhaustion, physical tiredness, and trouble thinking clearly. The review says both job factors and personal traits matter, and that long-lasting burnout is linked to worse sleep and to some health problems (for example mild cognitive decline, diabetes, and heart disease). Because definitions vary and symptoms overlap with depression, it is hard to measure how common burnout is, but the review also notes ways (like coping strategies, stress-reduction, and workplace changes) that may help and should be used early in the course of burnout.

Key facts:

• The World Health Organization (ICD-11) defines burnout as a syndrome from chronic workplace stress and says it is an "occupational phenomenon," not a medical condition.
• Burnout is made up of three main features: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance or cynicism toward one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy.
• Some studies report about 7%–9% of working Europeans have experienced symptoms of clinical burnout, while one Austrian study reported about 50% of physicians showing burnout symptoms.
• Persistent or clinical burnout is associated with sleep problems and higher risk of medical issues, including mild cognitive impairment, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, according to the review.
• Research cited in the review links ongoing burnout with signs of increased bodily stress, such as higher cortisol levels and raised triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and fasting glucose in some studies.
• There is overlap between burnout and depression. People with severe burnout can show depressive symptoms, and those with burnout may be at higher risk of developing clinical depression.
• Accurate numbers on how common burnout is are hard to get because diagnostic criteria are unclear, different studies use different definitions, and symptoms overlap with other conditions.
• The review states that combining active coping, mental resilience training, stress-reducing activities, and improvements in work conditions may reduce burnout-related distress and that these measures should be introduced early in the clinic

Abstract

Burnout syndrome is a distinct "occupational phenomenon" rather than a medical condition, comprising emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and cognitive weariness. Both exogenous work-related and endogenous personal factors determine the extent and the severity of symptoms in burnout syndrome. Persistent burnout is a cause of reduced quality of life and is associated with increased risk of sleep impairment and with several medical disorders including mild cognitive impairment, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.Active coping strategies promoting mental resilience and adaptive behavior, stress-reducing activities, improving work conditions, and reducing exposure to work stressors together may alleviate the distress of burnout and should be introduced early in the clinical course of burnout syndrome. The purpose of this review was to explain this complex and puzzling phenomenon and to describe burnout management.

Topics

Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Stress and Burnout Research

Categories

General Health Professions Health Professions Health Sciences

Tags

Burnout Clinical psychology Cognition Coping (psychology) Disease Distress Emotional exhaustion Internal medicine Medicine Occupational stress Psychiatry Psychological resilience Psychology Psychotherapist Stressor