This is not a “fad”, but a problem that should be taken seriously, emphasized the Viennese psychiatrist Michael Musalek to the APA following a symposium at the weekend.
“Burn-out – fad or widespread disease” was the title of the event organized by the Institute for Social Aesthetics and Mental Health at the Sigmund Freud Private University together with the Erwin Ringel Foundation Fund last Saturday in Vienna with more than a hundred participants. Musalek, following many years at the helm of the Anton Proksch Institute, is now head of the facility at the private university: “Burn-out is not among the psychiatric illness diagnoses. The reason for this is that burn-out begins in healthy people and at a later stage becomes an illness.” In the international disease classification system ICD, the syndrome is listed as a condition that ultimately leads to increased use of medical services.
Reduction in performance and alienation tendencies
The senior psychologist at the Anton Proksch Institute, Oliver Scheibebogen, presented the most reliable figures regarding the prevalence of burn-out in Austria at the symposium. Musalek: “The social psychiatrist Johannes Wancata from the MedUni Vienna conducted a large scientific study on mental illnesses in Austria. A ‘side arm’ in which we worked was burnout. More than 40 percent of adult Austrians show signs of this of burnout. Those affected in stages 1 and 2 are approximately equally common. Eight percent of people are in stage 3 and are already mentally ill as a result of their burnout. Women and men are affected approximately equally often. Women come with severe burnout “They cope with stress better than men, but often have double burdens.”
In stage 1 of burnout, without the intensity of a psychiatric illness, there is primarily a reduction in performance and tendencies towards alienation. “You feel alienated from your work colleagues, from your work and ultimately from yourself. Those who are particularly affected are often those who are particularly motivated, those who are particularly precise. They take work home with them, and their free time becomes increasingly ‘thin’. Relationship problems often follow. In addition “There is increased irritability. What used to make us often just angry suddenly makes us very angry,” said the psychiatrist.
Physically detectable changes
In stage 2, burnout is accompanied by physically objectively detectable changes. These are primarily increased blood pressure and states of tension, including severe irritability as a result of constant over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system. “At this stage, people often try to make ends meet with ‘everyday doping’. These are of course ‘optimal’ depressant substances – and the most easily accessible ‘tranquilizer’ for us is alcohol,” explained Musalek. As part of a burnout, stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamines, are often abused.
Stage 3 is ultimately an illness because it leads to severe and long-lasting states of exhaustion, which can progress into severe depression. “These people suffer from everything that we associate with ‘loss’ – joylessness, insomnia, lack of interest, etc. While in the first two stages the focus of care is primarily advice and coaching, in stage 3 antidepressants and psychotherapy are often necessary,” emphasized the expert.
“A lot of work alone doesn’t lead to burnout”
By the way, simply “overworking” does not mean burnout. “A lot of work alone does not lead to burnout. It is the lack of positive feedback, a bad working atmosphere and perceived unfair treatment that are causally involved. Especially if your own value system cannot be reconciled with the value system at work.” said Musalek.
Even if the epidemiological data comes from adults, children and young people can be just as affected, according to the Viennese psychiatrist: “There are a number of young people who slip into a state of exhaustion and a reduction in their performance because of the pressure to succeed. Then they get bad grades school, which means even more stress and can lead to a negative spiral.” Those affected become alienated from their classmates, no longer want to go to school, and refuse.
The question of why burnout has become so common cannot be answered easily. Musalek: “It’s certainly the acceleration of our lives. But it’s also the change from a performance-based society to a success-based society. If I’m not successful, I can still achieve as much as I want – I don’t get any recognition. And then There’s also the often unloving way people treat other people. The most important thing would be prevention.” A huge amount might be achieved in the workplace here.
