Abstract
Burnout syndrome is a state of total exhaustion related to work conditions and stress from work. Recent findings suggest that logotherapy and the concepts of existential meaning and life fulfilment could provide a useful framework for explaining and potentially preventing burnout. This review article summarizes and reflects current knowledge concerning the relation between burnout syndrome and existential vacuum as a potential correlate. It also explores the risks of burnout and the need of better definition of this condition including more precise diagnostic criteria and internationally recognized measurement tools. Intensified research on relations between burnout and lack of existential fulfilment and meaning could help with future prevention and intervention design.
Highlights
A purpose of this review article is to link Viktor Frankl’s concept of existential vacuum to burnout syndrome
Maslach and Jackson as a set of three symptoms: 1) emotional exhaustion, 2) depersonalization and cynicism and 3) feelings of inefficiency or lack of accomplishment [15, 16]. This threedimensional model has been widely accepted as a conceptual framework for burnout syndrome, and WHO used it in its definition of burnout in the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases
WHO in its 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases defined burnout syndrome according to Maslach’s original definition but narrowed it down to the occupational context with a recommendation it should not be applied to other areas of life
Summary
A purpose of this review article is to link Viktor Frankl’s concept of existential vacuum to burnout syndrome. This article will describe a need for better understanding of this syndrome as a potentially widely established diagnostic category and how to distinguish it from other related diseases like depression or stress-related disorders. Maslach and Jackson as a set of three symptoms: 1) emotional exhaustion, 2) depersonalization and cynicism and 3) feelings of inefficiency or lack of accomplishment [15, 16] This threedimensional model has been widely accepted as a conceptual framework for burnout syndrome, and WHO used it in its definition of burnout in the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases. WHO in its 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases defined burnout syndrome according to Maslach’s original definition but narrowed it down to the occupational context with a recommendation it should not be applied to other areas of life. The important inclusion criteria were burnout, logotherapy, therapeutic intervention, stress, depression and treatment outcome
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