Peter Huggard

Burnout in Psychiatrists: An Etiological Model

Objective: This article reviews burnout in psychiatrists. A model of burnout is presented which considers three factors: those which may predispose, precipitate, and perpetuate burnout. Lastly, recommendations are made for future research. Methods: We conducted a selective literature review to expand on two recent systematic reviews to examine the etiology, prevalence, and consequences of burnout in psychiatrists. We distinguish the effects of burnout, depression, and work-related stress. Results: An etiological model for the development of burnout in psychiatrists is described here in terms of an interaction between the predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors. Conclusions: Research is needed on the long-term effects of work-place stress on psychiatrists, to identify possible protective factors, and to utilize this information to inform the design of interventions that protect or mitigate the effects of work-place stress on psychiatrists.

Occupational stress amongst audiologists: compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout.

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate occupational stress amongst audiologists, along with quantification of their professional quality of life: Burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction. Design: A cross-sectional postal survey research design using an audiology occupational stress questionnaire (AOSQ), and the professional quality of life (ProQOL) instrument. Study sample: The sample consisted of members of the New Zealand Audiological Society. One hundred and forty-five questionnaires were mailed, 82 responses were received. Results: The main findings suggest that six stress factors dominate clinical audiology: (1) time demand, (2) audiological management, (3) patient contact, (4) clinical protocol, (5) patient accountability, and (6) administration or equipment. A significant relationship was found between increasing age of the audiologist and risk of acquiring burnout (chi-square (1) = 6.119, p < 0.05). Pearsons correlations revealed time demand was the strongest predictor of low compassion satisfaction (r = 0.327) and burnout (r = 0.463), while stress associated with patient contact was the strongest predictor of compassion fatigue (r = 0.352). Conclusions: This study identifies sources of stress for clinical audiologists and different factors that contribute to professional quality of life.

Occupational Stress and Burnout among Surgeons in Fiji

Aim This study examined the levels of occupational stress and burnout among surgeons in Fiji. Methods A document set comprising a cover letter; a consent form; a sociodemographic and supplementary information questionnaire; the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI); the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); and the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaires were provided to surgeons from three public divisional hospitals in Fiji. Thirty-six of 43 (83.7%) invited surgeons participated in the study. Results According to their MBI scores, surgeons suffered from low (10, 27.8%), moderate (23, 63.9%), and high (3, 8.3%) levels of burnout. Comparatively, 23 (63.9%) demonstrated moderate burnout according to their ProQOL scores. Substantial psychiatric morbidity was observed in 16 (44.0%) surgeons per their GHQ-12 scores. Consumption of alcohol was noted in 29 (80.6%) surgeons, and 12 (33.4%) had AUDIT scores characterizing their alcohol use in excess of low-risk guidelines or as harmful or hazardous drinking. Surgeons of Fijian nationality showed higher MBI emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores compared with surgeons of other nationalities. Surgeons with an awareness of the availability of counseling services at their hospitals showed low AUDIT and ProQOL burnout scores. Smokers, alcohol drinkers, and kava drinkers showed higher AUDIT scores. Conclusion This study highlights a level of occupational stress and burnout among surgeons in Fiji and a lack of awareness of their mental and physical well-being. The authors recommend that occupational stress and burnout intervention strategies be put in place in hospitals in Fiji.

The psychopathology of James Bond and its implications for the revision of the DSM-(00)7.

Objective: To develop a more concise, user‐friendly edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM advisory board is probably already hard at work on the DSM‐6, so this study is focused on the DSM‐(00)7 edition.