Abstract
BackgroundStudies of psychological stress among substance misuse professionals rarely describe the nature of burnout and psychological morbidity. The main aim of this study was to determine the extent, pattern and predictors of psychological morbidity and burnout among substance misuse professionals.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional mail survey of 194 clinical staff of substance misuse services in the former South Thames region of England, using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as measures of psychological morbidity and burnout, respectively.ResultsRates of psychological morbidity (82%: 95% CI = 76–87) and burnout (high emotional exhaustion – 33% [27–40]; high depersonalisation – 17% [12–23]; and diminished personal accomplishment – 36% [29–43]) were relatively high in the study sample. High levels of alienation and tension (job stressors) predicted emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation (burnout) but not psychological morbidity. Diminished personal accomplishment was associated with higher levels of psychological morbidityConclusionIn the sample of substance misuse professionals studied, rates of psychological morbidity and burnout were high, suggesting a higher level of vulnerability than in other health professionals. Furthermore, pathways to psychological morbidity and burnout are partially related. Therefore, targeted response is required to manage stress, burnout and psychological morbidity among substance misuse professionals. Such a response should be integral to workforce development.
Highlights
Studies of psychological stress among substance misuse professionals rarely describe the nature of burnout and psychological morbidity
Many studies have been conducted on the prevalence and pattern of psychological morbidity in different occupational groups and settings [8,9,10]
Prevalence of burnout The rate of burnout was as follows: high emotional exhaustion (EE), 33.2%; high depersonalisation (DP), 17.0%; and diminished personal accomplishment (PA), 35.8%
Summary
Studies of psychological stress among substance misuse professionals rarely describe the nature of burnout and psychological morbidity. The main aim of this study was to determine the extent, pattern and predictors of psychological morbidity and burnout among substance misuse professionals. The targets set in the strategy may have put extra demands on substance misuse services with a likely increase in job-related stress, burnout and associated psychological morbidity. Few studies have examined burnout in substance misuse workers. An earlier study of burnout among substance misuse workers in the UK [5] revealed high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalisation in this population. Very few studies have examined work-related predictors of burnout in substance misuse workers, and these have been limited to the addiction workforce in the United States [6,7]. Very few have focused on psychological morbidity and its predictors in substance misuse professionals
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