The iatrogenic disease called burnout
Battle, C.U.
Journal of the American Medical Women's Association 36(12): 357-359
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-8421 PMID: 7187673 Document Number: 5876
The burnout syndrome-a total loss of concern and feeling for one's patients-is a serious phenomenon for women physicians as well as for their male colleagues. It plays havoc with both doctor and patient. Working continuously and intensively with very sick people overwhelmed with problems, the burnedout physician finds she cannot cope with the unrelenting emotional stress. She finally adopts a detached, dehumanizing attitude toward her patients. It need not take long to develop: A young women may complete her medical training wholly dedicated and committed, and then lose her enthusiasm within a year because of burnout. Her symptoms may include physical exhaustion, low morale, impaired performance, high absenteeism, or even alcoholism, drug abuse, or mental illness. A hospital or clinic with a high prevalence of staff burnout will suffer in terms of turnover, increased training costs, and disruption in health care.
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