Cognitive function in clinical burnout: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Clinical burnout has been associated with impaired cognitive functioning; however, previous findings have been heterogeneous and the specific domains that are affected and the magnitude of impairment is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis was to assess cognitive function in clinical burnout and identify the pattern and severity of cognitive dysfunction across cognitive domains. We identified 17 studies encompassing 730 patients with clinical burnout and 649 healthy controls. Clinical burnout was associated with small to moderate impairments in episodic memory (g = -0.36, 95 % CI -0.57 to -0.15), short-term and working memory (g = -0.36, 95 % CI -0.52 to -0.20), executive function (g = -0.39, 95 % CI -0.55 to -0.23), attention and processing speed (g = -0.43, 95 % CI -0.57 to -0.29) and fluency (g = -0.53, 95 % CI -1.04 to -0.03). There were no differences between patients and controls in crystallized (k = 6 studies) and visuospatial abilities (k = 4). Our findings suggest that clinical burnout is associated with cognitive impairment across multiple cognitive domains. Cognitive dysfunction needs to be considered in the clinical and occupational health management of burnout to optimize rehabilitation and prognosis.