Characterization of patients discharged from inpatient treatment for burnout: use of psychological characteristics to identify aftercare needs

Abstract

With increasing severity, burnout corresponds to a state of significant suffering with impaired social functioning, decreased quality of life, and psychosomatic complaints. The present study investigates (a) how former patients of an inpatient clinic for burnout therapy can be grouped on the basis of their psychological characteristics and (b) whether these groups correspond to different levels of residual symptoms (depression and burnout) and general mental health. Cluster analysis of psychological characteristics was used to form groups. Four specific groups could be identified (functionals, dysfunctionals, straightforward pragmatists, unhappy altruists). This grouping, with subsequent characterization according to symptom levels, provides important information indicating possible needs for aftercare and suggests areas for improvement of previous care.

Subtipos de burnout e implicaciones clínicas: Una propuesta teórica basada en abordajes terapéuticos específicos

“…For instance, it has been observed that problemfocused coping is not a suitable strategy for situations of an uncontrollable nature or of chronic length, given that it may ultimately give way to a gradual process of behavioural disengagement (Wallace et al, 2010). On the other hand, it has also been shown that emotionfocused coping is not suitable when it involves detachment from the situation, but it does become an ef fective strategy if it involves a positive reevaluation (Haberthür et al, 2009). From this perspective, burnout would appear to be the result of a persistent use of inef ficacious or dysfunctional coping strategies, with which workers try to protect themselves from chronic workre lated stress (Lazarus, 1993;Reissner et al, 2009).…”

“…These range from the fulfilment of personal goals, as occurs with the frenetic subtype, to the need to achieve a minimum level of challenges, as in the case of the underchallenged, through to the need of the wornout subtype to perceive a certain level of con trol over environmental contingencies. The denial of all of these is linked to an important variety of psychoso matic symptoms, but also to significant suffering, which if not treated in time and appropriately, could easily lead to states of depression (Haberthür et al, 2009). Despite having a consensual operational definition with a char acterized aetiopathogenesis and clinical relevance, burn out is not recognized as a mental disorder in current di agnostic systems, perhaps because there is ongoing debate regarding the differences between burnout and depression (Bianchi et al, 2014).…”

“…On the one hand, some treat ments make better marriages with some mental health disorders (Barlow, 2007). And on the other, even more specifically, efficacy is increased when treatments have a direct impact on the main dysfunctional targets of the disorders (Haberthür et al, 2009;PradoAbril, GarcíaCampayo, & SánchezReales, 2013;TorrentsRo das et al, 2015). This is where a longitudinal approach, based on a longitudinal criterion which can act as a yard stick for clinical severity (MonteroMarín & GarcíaCam payo, 2010), can be of great assistance in structuring a comprehensive framework for the syndrome.…”

“…Given this background, it is not enough to merely ac knowledge the situation of risk that burnout creates in the current work environment, but it is also necessary to go further by seeking to define the conditions in which new diagnostic, prevention and treatment procedures for this condition can be incorporated (GómezAlcaina, MonteroMarín, Demarzo, Pereira y GarcíaCampayo, 2013;Haberthür et al, 2009). The main aim of this nar rativereview is to provide a systematic view of the dif ferent manifestations and clinical implications of burn out and its subtypes, and to construct a theoretical proposal for coherent therapeutic interventions, for the purpose of informing and encouraging debate on the subject between healthcare professionals, researchers and managers.…”

Parental Bonding and Academic Burnout on Addiction Potential Among Students

“…The two genders vary greatly in terms of biological and hormonal factors; on the other hand, due to the presence of testosterone among males, they may show more aggressive behaviors, which have a significant positive relationship with higher level of addiction potential. In addition, since family supervision over males is less than females, thus in case of mental and psychological crisis, females suffer more from depression and anxiety whereas males turn to drugs (27). Considering the expectations towards females' addiction in the community, drug abuse behaviors among females is less than in males, so this attitude reduces the females' tendency to addiction (28).…”