Burnout syndrome – colloquially called acute fatigue syndrome – (synonyms: Burnout; burnout syndrome; ICD-10-GM Z73: problems related to difficulties in coping with life) is a condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, decreased performance, and depersonalization (“depersonalization”). “Burnout” comes from English and means something like “being burned out.”
One’s own idealistic ideas about work do not correspond to reality, too high demands are made on oneself, the consequences are disillusionment, frustration and apathy (lack of passion).
Affected are people who work on or with other people or where there is a high pressure to perform such as:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Other nursing and healing professions
- Teachers
- Educator
- Social worker
- Manager
- Athlete
About 10 percent of people working in such or similar professions are affected by burnout syndrome.
According to Freudenberger and North, the burnout syndrome can be divided into 12 phases, although these phases do not always have to occur exactly in that order:
- The entry factor into the burnout cycle is excessive ambition. The desire to prove oneself turns into compulsion and doggedness. It is therefore affected by the burnout syndrome especially ambitious and capable employees
- To meet the self-imposed, high requirements, the effort is increased
- In view of this readiness for action, the satisfaction of their own needs comes more and more too short
- Conflicts are suppressed, although the person concerned is aware of them
- The non-work needs continue to lose importance, for them no more time can be raised
- This abandonment is often no longer even perceived, the overwork and overload are increasingly denied. Intolerance and decreasing flexibility increasingly characterize the thinking and behavior
- Disorientation sets in, but can be masked by a cynical, outwardly seemingly unchanged attitude
- Behavioral changes become unmistakable, such as the defensiveness to criticism, the increasing emotional withdrawal from the work environment, the lack of flexibility
- Consequence of this can be a loss of perception of their own person, former needs are no longer recognized
- There is a feeling of uselessness, anxiety or addictive behavior can occur
- Increasing futility and disinterest characterize the final stages, initiative and motivation are at the zero point arrived
- Total exhaustion, which can be life-threatening
Sex ratio: the sex ratio is believed to be balanced, assuming an increased incidence of unreported cases in men.
Frequency peak: the disease occurs predominantly between the 50th and 59th year of life.
The prevalence (disease incidence) is 3.3% for men and 5.2% for women (in Germany). The prevalence increases proportionally to the social status.
Course and prognosis: The burnout syndrome or the feeling of being burned out is accompanied by prolonged states of absolute powerlessness and fatigue. It develops over a longer period of time. Ultimately, it leads to a loss of quality of life and, in most cases, to secondary illnesses such as anxiety disorders and depression. Burnout syndrome must be taken seriously and treated, if only because it is considered a risk factor for depression. The chances of recovery are better, the earlier the problem is recognized, the more favorable is also the course and prognosis.
