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Depression-Burnout Overlap in Physicians

Author

Listed:
  • Walter Wurm
  • Katrin Vogel
  • Anna Holl
  • Christoph Ebner
  • Dietmar Bayer
  • Sabrina Mörkl
  • Istvan-Szilard Szilagyi
  • Erich Hotter
  • Hans-Peter Kapfhammer
  • Peter Hofmann

Abstract

Background: Whether burnout is a distinct phenomenon rather than a type of depression and whether it is a syndrome, limited to three “core” components (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment) are subjects of current debate. We investigated the depression-burnout overlap, and the pertinence of these three components in a large, representative sample of physicians. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, all Austrian physicians were invited to answer a questionnaire that included the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), the Hamburg Burnout Inventory (HBI), as well as demographic and job-related parameters. Of the 40093 physicians who received an invitation, a total of 6351 (15.8%) participated. The data of 5897 participants were suitable for analysis. Results: Of the participants, 10.3% were affected by major depression. Our study results suggest that potentially 50.7% of the participants were affected by symptoms of burnout. Compared to physicians unaffected by burnout, the odds ratio of suffering from major depression was 2.99 (95% CI 2.21–4.06) for physicians with mild, 10.14 (95% CI 7.58–13.59) for physicians with moderate, 46.84 (95% CI 35.25–62.24) for physicians with severe burnout and 92.78 (95% CI 62.96–136.74) for the 3% of participants with the highest HBI_sum (sum score of all ten HBI components). The HBI components Emotional Exhaustion, Personal Accomplishment and Detachment (representing depersonalization) tend to correlate more highly with the main symptoms of major depression (sadness, lack of interest and lack of energy) than with each other. A combination of the HBI components Emotional Exhaustion, Helplessness, Inner Void and Tedium (adj.R2 = 0.92) explained more HBI_sum variance than the three “core” components (adj.R2 = 0.85) of burnout combined. Cronbach’s alpha for Emotional Exhaustion, Helplessness, Inner Void and Tedium combined was 0.90 compared to α = 0.54 for the combination of the three “core” components. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the overlap of burnout and major depression in terms of symptoms and the deficiency of the three-dimensional concept of burnout. In our opinion, it might be preferable to use multidimensional burnout inventories in combination with valid depression scales than to rely exclusively on MBI when clinically assessing burnout.

Suggested Citation

  • Walter Wurm & Katrin Vogel & Anna Holl & Christoph Ebner & Dietmar Bayer & Sabrina Mörkl & Istvan-Szilard Szilagyi & Erich Hotter & Hans-Peter Kapfhammer & Peter Hofmann, 2016. "Depression-Burnout Overlap in Physicians," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0149913
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149913
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    1. Masato Toyoshima & Shinichi Takenoshita & Hitoshi Hasegawa & Takuma Kimura & Kyoko Nomura, 2020. "Experiences of Negotiations for Improving Research Environment and Burnout among Young Physician Researchers in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Antonios Revythis & Sidrah Shah & Synthia Enyioma & Aruni Ghose & Meenash Patel & Afroditi Karathanasi & Elisabet Sanchez & Stergios Boussios, 2021. "The Experience of a Single NHS England Trust on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Junior and Middle-Grade Doctors: What Is Next?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Mark Anderson, D. & Diris, Ron & Montizaan, Raymond & Rees, Daniel I., 2023. "The effects of becoming a physician on prescription drug use and mental health treatment," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Jennifer S. Mascaro & Patricia K. Palmer & Marcia J. Ash & Caroline Peacock & Cam Escoffery & George Grant & Charles L. Raison, 2021. "Incivility Is Associated with Burnout and Reduced Compassion Satisfaction: A Mixed-Method Study to Identify Causes of Burnout among Oncology Clinical Research Coordinators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    5. Zhi Xuan Low & Keith A. Yeo & Vijay K. Sharma & Gilberto K. Leung & Roger S. McIntyre & Anthony Guerrero & Brett Lu & Chun Chiang Sin Fai Lam & Bach X. Tran & Long H. Nguyen & Cyrus S. Ho & Wilson W. , 2019. "Prevalence of Burnout in Medical and Surgical Residents: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Oana-Matilda SABIE & Ruxandra-Irina POPESCU & Ioana CRETU, 2024. "Burnout And Job Satisfaction. A Pilot Study Among Employees Of Romanian Cultural Research Institutions," APPLIED RESEARCH IN ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 5(1), pages 4-19, April.
    7. Meng Xuan Zhang & Long W. Lam & Anise M. S. Wu, 2022. "Recovery Experiences Protect Emotionally Exhausted White-Collar Workers from Gaming Addiction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, October.
    8. Gwenolé Loas & Alice Solibieda & Marianne Rotsaert & Yvon Englert, 2019. "Suicidal ideations among medical students: The role of anhedonia and type D personality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Kathryn W Koval & Benjamin Lindquist & Christine Gennosa & Aditya Mahadevan & Kian Niknam & Sanket Patil & G V Ramana Rao & Matthew C Strehlow & Jennifer A Newberry, 2020. "First look at emergency medical technician wellness in India: Application of the Maslach Burnout Inventory in an unstudied population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Alexandra Huber & Cornelia Strecker & Melanie Hausler & Timo Kachel & Thomas Höge & Stefan Höfer, 2020. "Possession and Applicability of Signature Character Strengths: What Is Essential for Well-Being, Work Engagement, and Burnout?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 415-436, April.
    11. Magdalena Zgliczyńska & Stanisław Zgliczyński & Michał Ciebiera & Katarzyna Kosińska-Kaczyńska, 2019. "Occupational Burnout Syndrome in Polish Physicians: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Thomas Höge & Cornelia Strecker & Melanie Hausler & Alexandra Huber & Stefan Höfer, 2020. "Perceived Socio-moral Climate and the Applicability of Signature Character Strengths at Work: a Study among Hospital Physicians," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 463-484, April.
    13. Cornelia Strecker & Alexandra Huber & Thomas Höge & Melanie Hausler & Stefan Höfer, 2020. "Identifying thriving Workplaces in Hospitals: Work Characteristics and the Applicability of Character Strengths at Work," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 437-461, April.
    14. Andreea Iulia Socaciu & Razvan Ionut & Maria Barsan & Andreea Petra Ungur & Armand Gabriel Rajnoveanu, 2020. "Burnout in Gastroenterology Unit Nurses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-10, April.

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