[Burnout and stress disorders in intensive care doctors]

The various acute and chronic demands and burdens put ICU staff at greater risk for developing psychological and stress disorders. It was the aim of this study to assess the prevalence rates of burnout-syndrome in anesthetists, and to evaluate the contribution of working conditions to the development of burnout.

Self-reporting questionnaires were used to assess emotional well-being and physical health, burnout-syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory), and working conditions (Instrument for Stress-Oriented Task Analysis) in 89 anaesthetists (56 males, 33 females).

One quarter of the anaesthetists show high values on the subscales "emotional exhaustion" or "depersonalization", and one fifth low values on the subscale "lack of personal accomplishment". About one quarter of the probands may be seen as "at risk for burnout". Feelings of ill-health are relatively frequent in both sexes. Long working hours and night duties, the cooperation with members of different occupational groups, and small working place resources are seen as particular stresses.

Burnout-syndrome and psychosomatic symptoms are frequent in intensive care doctors. But preventive measures such as adequate resources at the work place and supervision can influence personal behavior and working conditions, and thus reduce the risk of burnout.