BURNOUT Syndrome: What is it, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Consequences

Are you tired, unmotivated, irritable and have muscle aches? It may be due to burnout. Approximately 6 out of every 100 workers suffer from burnout syndrome, that is, they are burned from work. However, the prevalence varies by sector, reaching up to 66.6% in certain professions. This syndrome is considered a major health problem. In addition, it affects the quality of work, something extremely important when we speak, for example, of doctors, doctors, teachers, and teachers, among others.

To learn more about this condition, keep reading this Psychology-Online article about the Burnout syndrome: what is it, causes, symptoms, treatment and consequences.

Index

1. What is burnout syndrome?
2. Causes of burnout syndrome
3. Burnout syndrome: symptoms
4. Consequences of burnout syndrome
5. Nursing burnout syndrome
6. Burnout syndrome: test
7. Treatment of burnout syndrome

Burnout syndrome: origin of the concept

Burnout syndrome is a term that comes from the English concept:

The concept appeared in 1974 described by Herbert Freudenberger, who explained burnout syndrome as a feeling of failure and an exhausting experience as a result of being overloaded by the demands of the job^[1]. Later, Christina Maslach studied the loss of professional responsibility suffered by some workers in the helping professions, such as health workers or educators. In 1986, Christina Maslach and Susan Jackson defined burnout syndrome as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal fulfillment, which can occur between workers who work with people.

In 1988, Pines and Aronson came up with a description of burnout that included other work environments. This definition says that burnout is the state of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion, produced by chronic involvement in situations with emotional demands at work^[2]. Brill agrees with them, who believes that burnout can appear in any type of work.

Burnout syndrome: current definition

The current definition of burnout syndrome or burnout syndrome is as follows: set of signs and symptoms that persist for a time and are characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal fulfillment in the job. It is considered a response to chronic work stress that presents discomfort and negative feelings towards work and people.

• Emotional exhaustion: the state of affective fatigue in which the worker can no longer work due to caring for people and in unsuitable conditions for the worker.
• Depersonalization: It consists of dehumanization and affective hardening. Professionals with burnout syndrome become insensitive and cynical with the patients, clients or users they serve.
• Little professional accomplishment: feeling of discontent and dissatisfaction with oneself and with the work done.

Burnout and stress

Are burnout syndrome and work stress the same? No. difference between burnout syndrome and stress labor is that the first is a consequence of the second. That is, when stress increases and becomes chronic, it can turn into burnout. Syndrome burnout is considered more extensive and severe than stress. Regarding symptoms, stress manifests itself through over-involvement in problems and emotional hyperactivity, on the contrary, in burnout there is a lack of involvement and dullness emotional.

Boreout syndrome

It is important to mention the boreout syndrome, since due to its great similarity in the spelling it can be confused with the burnout syndrome. That is, burnout and boreout are written similarly but they do not mean the same thing. The main difference between burnout and boreout is the cause of the syndrome. The cause of boreout syndrome is lack of work and boredom that it produces.

Why happens? What are the causes of burnout syndrome? The burnout syndrome or burn syndrome derives from the interaction between the characteristics of the person and exposure to harmful psychosocial work conditions. These conditions consist of exaggerated demands, especially emotional ones, that exceed the worker. Therefore, we find two large groups of causes of burnout syndrome:

1. Causes of burnout syndrome relative to the person

• Low tolerance for stress and frustration.
• Poor coping strategies.
• Lack of social support.
• Perfectionism and sense of responsibility.

2. Causes of burnout syndrome related to working conditions

• Should engage with patients, clients or users.
• The emotional work, that is, having to express socially acceptable emotions while working.
• Work overload.
• Lack of prevention of psychosocial occupational risks.
• Imbalance between workload and available resources.
• Poor quality of interpretive relationships at work.
• Lack of opportunities for learning, improvement and development.
• Imbalance between expectations and the reality of work.
• Excessive work hours.
• High levels of demand.
• Lack of time to organize tasks.

Burnout syndrome can present different symptoms depending on the person, since each person is unique and the syndrome affects them differently. The three key signs to detect burnout or burn syndrome are those that have been commented previously: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low fulfillment. Burnout symptoms can be included in these three large dimensions. However, the symptoms of burnout can also be differentiated into physical symptoms and psychological symptoms:

Burnout syndrome: physical symptoms

• Frequent headache
• Muscle pains
• Gastrosintestinal discomfort (nausea, diarrhea, gas)
• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Difficulty breathing and sighing
• Sexual problems
• Sleep problems (insomnia, nightmares)
• Stuttering
• Tremors
• Sweat

Burnout syndrome: psychological symptoms

• Little involvement at work (including absenteeism from work)
• Decreased intensity of emotions
• Insensitivity
• Social distancing
• Cynicism
• Demotivation
• Hopelessness
• Feeling of loneliness
• Frustration
• Dissatisfaction
• Hostility
• Difficult to focus
• Culpability
• Irritability
• Discouragement
• Nervousness
• Negative attitudes
• Difficulty making decisions

Burnout syndrome: consequences for the worker

Burnout syndrome can lead to severe consequences for the person who suffers from it. Some of the consequences of burnout syndrome for the professionals themselves are listed below:

• Physical consequences. Burnout syndrome can influence or enhance aspects such as hair loss, contractures muscular, dermatological, cardiovascular, digestive, intestinal, sexual and respiratory It can contribute to more illnesses like colds and infections.
• Psychological consequences. Burnout syndrome can cause emotional and psychopathological problems, affects self-esteem, health, well-being and the quality of life of the person. Can lead to mood disorders (such as depression) and anxiety disorders. Another possible consequence of the syndrome is the increase in addictions, both of substances and alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, such as behaviors, such as pathological gambling or shopping compulsive. Also chronic fatigue, general malaise and risk behaviors.
• Social consequences. Burnout syndrome can produce social consequences such as negative attitudes towards other people, social isolation and increased problems with the couple and family.
• Accidents. Burnout syndrome increases the risk of accidents.

Burnout syndrome: consequences for the company

The health and quality of life of workers affects the competitiveness and efficiency of companiesTherefore, poor health or quality of life at work negatively affect the organization through absenteeism and a decrease in production and quality. Another consequence of burnout that affects companies is the increase in accidents.

Burnout syndrome: consequences for society.

Burnout is a social and public health problem that involves a large economic and social cost. The syndrome affects professionals, therefore, it has an influence on the economy. In addition, for all its symptoms, consequences and possible complications, it also affects the health system.

Burnout syndrome is more prevalent among professionals engaged in vocational and personal care jobs, such as doctors, nurses, and teachers. It is increasingly common among workers who provide services to people and who work in direct contact with people, whether they are patients, clients, users, etc. These workers include the health sector professionals, specific, nurses and nurses. However, it is also worth highlighting the importance of the increase in the prevalence of burnout syndrome in teachers.

What is burnout syndrome in nursing

Nursing is one of the professions that suffers the most from burnout syndrome. One of the causes of burnout syndrome in nursing is constant exposure to people's suffering. One of the most frequent manifestations and consequences of burnout syndrome in nursing is the decreased quality of work.

Furthermore, the burnout syndrome in nursing is one of the most important reasons for abandonment of the profession. Currently, there is a significant shortage of nursing professionals due to burnout, something that the World Health Organization (WHO) has already warned about.

How to avoid burnout syndrome in nursing? Specialists propose to apply measures such as improve working conditions, increase wages and increase continuing training.

Research on burnout syndrome in nursing

Some research on burnout syndrome in nursing has shown that the group of nurses and nurses Nurses present greater depersonalization and feel less fulfilled than other health professionals such as technicians or auxiliaries. One study found that 66.6% of nursing professionals of the sample were burned. It has been observed that some indicators of suffering from burnout syndrome in nursing are lack of recognition and low job satisfaction. In addition, exhaustion is higher in specialties such as emergencies, service oncology and the care in mental health.

The diagnosis of burnout syndrome must be made after a psychological evaluation using validated procedures and carried out by an accredited professional. Therefore, if you think you have this syndrome, it is important to go to a professional to rule out other disorders such as depressive disorders or anxiety disorders. As we have seen previously, these disorders can be a consequence of burnout syndrome.

Burnout syndrome test

To detect burnout syndrome, the most widely used instrument is the Maslach questionnaire, whose name is Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Christina Maslach is a research psychologist and burnout syndrome expert. Maslach created the burnout test in 1981. The Maslach Burnout Inventory It is used to measure the 3 main aspects of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal fulfillment, through 22 items. The MBI items consist of statements that must be scored from 0 to 6 according to their truth. If you think you can present burnout, you can make the adaptation that we have made of this questionnaire: the burnout syndrome test.

Treatment of burnout syndrome begins with the changes in the company or workplace. First of all, it must improve organization with the aim that workers do not have an overload of work. It is also necessary to facilitate the employees the necesary resources, the right tools and training to do your job properly.

Burnout syndrome: drug treatment

Burnout syndrome as such does not have to require drug treatment. However, this decision must be made by the specialist after a thorough evaluation of the case. The use of drugs to treat burnout syndrome will depend on the severity of the symptoms presented and the personal characteristics of each patient.

Burnout syndrome: psychological treatment

Burnout syndrome must be approached globally, from organizational changes in the company to psychological treatment. Regarding the psychological treatment of burnout syndrome, the most important points are:

• Psychoeducation. This first step of the treatment consists of knowing the burnout syndrome, recognizing the symptoms, understanding the situation and identifying the factors that have originated it and that maintain it.
• Self-knowledge. Through records and analysis, it is about detecting to which situations you present maladaptive stress responses.
• Cope with stress. First of all, you need to learn Techniques of breathing and relaxation. Next, the belief system must be assessed and cognitive distortions modified through cognitive restructuring.
• Adjust expectations. As we have seen previously, some of the predisposing factors to suffer from the syndrome are related to perfectionism and the imbalance between expectations and reality. For this reason, it is necessary to bring expectations closer to reality and adjust the level of self-demand to the real possibilities.
• Improve self esteem. In order to improve self-esteem a background work is needed that includes several areas. It is important to identify your own weaknesses and strengths, accept them and work on them, that is, use the strengths to improve, if necessary, the weaknesses. In addition, it is also necessary to detect and eliminate judgments towards oneself. Another relevant aspect is treating yourself kindly.
• Build resilience. That is, training the ability to get stronger after difficulties.
• Work assertiveness. Improve communication skills and enhance assertiveness They will be useful to establish better communication with colleagues, superiors and users, as well as to defend your rights with respect.
• Healthy habits. It is important to maintain a routine of self-care and healthy habits that range from physical exercise and diet, to social relationships and meditation.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Burnout syndrome: what is it, causes, symptoms, treatment and consequences, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

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2. Pines, A. and Aronson, E. (1988). Career burnout. Causes and cures. New York: Free Press.

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