BURN-OUT SYNDROME OF DOCTORS & OTHER PROFESSIONALS

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

Definition: The term generally refers to a syndrome of stress-related fatigue, mild depression, anxiety, irritability, impaired decision making and low emotional resiliency seen in mental health professionals, police and workers in any high-stress occupations. It may also be seen in caretakers o5,6’xtremely sick individuals, severely stressed parents, housewives or “house husbands.”

1. The causes of Burn-out include the nature of a job that emotionally very draining, work related stresses like excess responsibilities, deadlines, lack of fulfillment and professional frustration, lack of scope to exhibit ones talents, lack of support, appreciation, and lack of promotion and other material rewards.
2. The clinical features are anxiety / depression, pessimism and cynicism, decreasing enthusiasm, lessening commitment originality and creativity, unexplained fatigue, carelessness, tendency to procrastinate, Irritability, lack of concern, greater use of alcohol, increased Cigarette smoking.
3. Burn-out might also manifest as health problem with high blood pressure, diabetes, peptic ulcer or insomnia.
4. In a doctor for example, there is a desire to quit, the feeling develops that he/she is stuck with the profession and his/her job for the rest of his/her life, with no means of escape, often leading to attempts to enter unrelated line usually leading to greater frustration.

Prognosis: Depends on at what stage the victim realises he is on his/her way to a burnout. If realised arly by looking for the warning signs, much can be done.

MANAGEMENT

General Principles:

1. The jobs that cause burnout generally consume a great deal of emotional energy, and in course of time lead to a state of impaired functioning at a personal, occupational, and social level. Conservation of the emotional energy by timely self-analysis, a willingness to reset goals throughout life, and proper support from friends and employers is the crux of prevention and management.
2. Reaching out to colleagues and exchanging information and discussing problems with them helps reduce stress to a great extent. But traditionally, among health professionals at least, there has not been positive feedback and this fuels isolation and burnout.
3. Analyze priorities in different segments of one’s life and priorities - Life has to be lived in all its facets - the family, career, hobbies, holidays, relaxation and so on. One should see to it that his time and energies are apportioned fairly. Over-lean on the career segment leads to ultimate mental burnout. Buffering from the other facets of living is vital, to balance out things.
4. Mental catharsis Talking it out with a friend, a counsellor, a colleague, and telling him about one’s ambitions and life goals. An objectively viewing friend can help solve the gap between the person’s expectations and reality.

Better understanding at the workplace Organisations, administrators, hospital management and such should look at complainants with some understanding. Whenever some one or a group complains, the matter has to be ‘fixed’. Brewing discontent has to be analysed sympathetically