Heart Rate Variability During “Alarm Stage” of Burnout Syndrome in Emergency Doctors

Abstract

The parameters of heart rate variations were examined in emergency care doctors that demonstrated the initial signs of defensive psychological burnout syndrome related to their professional activity. These parameters were compared within each of two groups with different individual typological features. The differences in the heart rate variability parameters were revealed between the examinees that were at the compensation or alarm stages of the burnout syndrome.

A biological perspective on differences and similarities between burnout and depression

“…Alternatively, HRV parameters may not reflect simply the degree of stress but rather an individual's strategy to cope with stressful conditions. In a group of first-aid doctors within an advanced burnout process individuals with task-oriented coping strategies showed significantly less signs of emotional stress and higher HRV compared to those with an emotion-oriented coping strategy (Kotov and Revina, 2012). A similar effect of autonomic coping strategies has been reported in a study in which healthy subjects and burnout patients were exposed to a simulated working day scheduled with several cognitive tasks (Zanstra et al, 2006).…”

“…Therefore, the focus of the following discussions is on changes in parasympathetic measures. Generally, HRV parameters can instantly reflect acute changes in physiologic (McCraty et al, 1995) and psychological states (Shinba et al, 2008) as well as regulatory processes involved in behavioral-emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial activities (Kotov and Revina, 2012). Changes in HRV were observed to be characteristic to a number of mental disorders, including MDD or panic disorders (Gorman and Sloan, 2000;Yeragani et al, 1991;Yeragani et al, 1993).…”

Heart rate variability as a strain indicator for psychological stress for emergency physicians during work and alert intervention: a systematic review

“…Two of the included studies using HRV between alert intervention comprised a total of 33 subjects [ 41 , 42 ]. The other 2 studies, using HRV in other question areas, included 63 participants [ 43 , 44 ]. One between-subject-design was used, which examined between groups of burnout with and without alarm signs [ 44 ].…”

Solucions tecnològiques per a l’estudi de la variabilitat de la freqüència cardíaca, l’estrès i la recuperació

“…L'anàlisi de la VFC també pot donar informació sobre molts aspectes psicosomàtics que tenen el seu origen en l'ansietat i l'estrès (D'Ascenzi et al, 2014;J. Morales et al, 2013) i darrerament n'estan apareixent moltes altres en les quals s'analitza el burn-out a partir de les dades proporcionades per la VFC (Hynynen, Konttinen, Kinnunen, Kyröläinen, & Rusko, 2011;Kotov & Revina, 2012).…”