BACKGROUND: Burnout syndrome usually begins with feelings of enthusiasm and idealized visualizations, and it is in contrast with subsequent disillusionment, disappointment, and symptoms which are related to chronic stress experienced later. This tendency to idealization is a parallel to the concept of "mental splitting" described by Kernberg with a pronounced "black and white" perceptual dichotomy between the early idealization and later disillusionment. This study intends examination of relationships between burnout syndrome, traumatic stress and Kernberg's concept of splitting. METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS: In this study we have assessed 90 health care professionals (50 women and 40 men) working with a population of diabetic patients utilizing Burnout Measure (BM), Splitting index (SI) and Traumatic Stress Checklist - 40 (TSC-40). RESULTS: Study results indicate significant Spearman correlations between burnout syndrome (BM) and traumatic stress (TSC-40) in population of men (R=0.75, p<0.01) and of women (R=0.61, p<0.01), as well as between burnout syndrome (BM) and splitting (SI) for both genders: men (R=0.40, p<0.01), women (R=0.51, p<0.01). These findings may have implications for prevention and treatment of burnout syndrome. CONCLUSION: The current study findings provide implications that the defensive mechanisms of splitting and traumatic stress may allow for the prediction of burnout symptoms. This relation may potentially be of use in both the potential detection and prevention of burnout syndrome.

• Klíčová slova
• burnout, dissociation, mental splitting, stress, traumatic stress,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The burnout syndrome represents a defence mechanism against stress and includes stages with decreased ability to experience feelings and emotional states. This finding suggests that burnout might be closely linked to emotional ‘blindness’ as a defence mechanism against negative and overwhelming emotions known as alexithymia. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between burnout syndrome, alexithymia, depression and traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare professionals. METHODS: This empirical study assessed female healthcare professionals who work with a population of patients with diabetes, utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSSMP), Burnout Measure (BM), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Traumatic Stress Checklist (TSC-40). Data were analysed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 114 female participants were included (age range, 31–60 years; mean age, 46.62 ± 8.71 years). Statistically significant associations were found between burnout syndrome (BM scores) and alexithymia (TAS-20) (r = 0.41), and between BM scores and traumatic stress (TSC-40; r = 0.63). The MBI-HSSMP emotional exhaustion subscale also correlated with alexithymia (TAS-20) (r = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that alexithymia and traumatic stress are related to burnout symptoms. This dynamic may be potentially useful for detecting and preventing burnout syndrome.

• Klíčová slova
• Burnout syndrome, alexithymia, depression, traumatic stress,
• MeSH
• afektivní symptomy epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• poskytování zdravotní péče MeSH
• profesionální vyhoření epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• psychický stres psychologie   MeSH
• stresové poruchy vyvolané traumatem epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• zdravotnický personál psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND The early days of a given experience are associated with typically what might be characterized as an idealized enthusiasm. Conversely burnout syndrome experienced later in the given experience is associated with disillusionment, disappointment, and symptoms which resemble a depression. This very common propensity is a parallel to the concept of "splitting" described by Kernberg with a pronounced "black and white" perceptual dichotomy between the early idealization and later disillusionment. This study intends examination of relationships between burnout syndrome, depression, and Kernberg's concept of splitting. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this present study, we assessed 132 female health care professionals working with a population of diabetic patients utilizing Burnout Measure (BM) Splitting Index (SI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and additional psychometric instruments, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Trauma Symptoms Checklist. RESULTS The study results indicated significant Spearman correlations between burnout syndrome as measured by BM and depression (BDI-II) (R=0.62, P<0.01), and burnout syndrome as measured by BM and splitting (SI) (R=0.45, P<0.01). These findings may have implications for prevention and treatment of burnout syndrome. CONCLUSIONS The current study findings provide implications that the defensive mechanism of splitting may allow for the prediction of burnout symptoms which in turn may allow for the prediction of burnout syndrome. This dynamics may potentially be of use in both the potential detection and prevention of burnout syndrome.

• MeSH
• deprese diagnóza   epidemiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• depresivní poruchy MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• duševní vyhoření epidemiologie   patofyziologie   psychologie   MeSH
• emoce MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• profesionální vyhoření epidemiologie   patofyziologie   psychologie   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• psychický stres komplikace   MeSH
• zdravotnický personál psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Burnout syndrome is a state of total exhaustion related to work conditions and stress from work. Recent findings suggest that logotherapy and the concepts of existential meaning and life fulfilment could provide a useful framework for explaining and potentially preventing burnout. This review article summarizes and reflects current knowledge concerning the relation between burnout syndrome and existential vacuum as a potential correlate. It also explores the risks of burnout and the need of better definition of this condition including more precise diagnostic criteria and internationally recognized measurement tools. Intensified research on relations between burnout and lack of existential fulfilment and meaning could help with future prevention and intervention design.

• Klíčová slova
• burnout syndrome, existential fulfilment, existential meaning, existential vacuum, logotherapy,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH