Comparing Prevalence of Burnout in Psychiatric Doctors Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review...

Objective: To determine the prevalence of burnout among psychiatry residents, fellows, and attendings ("psychiatry doctors") prior to and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data sources: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases was performed to identify studies reporting the prevalence of burnout pre-COVID-19 (pre-March 2020) and post-COVID-19 (post March 2020). The search was limited to articles written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals from January 1, 2010, until June 27, 2024.

Study selection: There were 1,825 studies screened by 2 independent reviewers, with 36 eligible for inclusion. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials reporting the prevalence of burnout using validated tools were eligible for inclusion.

Data extraction: Prevalence data were independently extracted by 2 authors and pooled using a random effects model. A subgroup analysis was performed, stratifying burnout by country income status.

Results: The prevalence of burnout was 37.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.2-47.3; 25 studies; 12,524 psychiatry doctors) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and 32.0% (95% CI, 18.6-47.0; 12 studies; 7,458 psychiatry doctors) following the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 1 in 2 psychiatry doctors from middle-income countries reported burnout pre-COVID-19 (49.8% [95% CI, 34.5-65.1]; 3 studies), with no studies reporting the prevalence of burnout in low-income countries. There was significant heterogeneity between studies.

Conclusions: Burnout among psychiatry doctors is common, affecting 1 in 3 both prior to and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional studies are needed from psychiatrists in low- and middle-income countries to better characterize the prevalence of burnout in this cohort.