Exploring the Psychobiology of Burnout

Are there two distinct syndromes?

Burnout, a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, has become a point of concern in recent years. But could there be two different syndromes underlying this condition?

The Study

Mattie Tops and colleagues embarked on a double-blind within-subjects study involving 9 female participants diagnosed with burnout and 9 controls. They were administered with 35 mg of cortisol and a placebo orally. The researchers observed the effect on the state of affection and measured plasma levels of various hormones, including prolactin, oxytocin, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone. Additionally, an attachment questionnaire was administered.

Key Findings

– Burnout participants showcased an extreme distribution of basal prolactin levels, either significantly higher or lower than controls.
– Those with low prolactin burnout showed considerably low attachment scores and tended to have lower oxytocin levels.
– Participants with high prolactin burnout exhibited a tendency to have cortisol-induced decreased prolactin, fatigue, and increased vigor.

Conclusions

The findings from the study are consistent with the hypothesis that individuals with burnout are characterized either by a low serotonergic function or by a low dopaminergic function. Interestingly, the latter group appeared to benefit from cortisol replacement. These preliminary results hint that there might be two distinct burnout syndromes, each with a unique underlying neurobiological mechanism. This distinction may be crucial for understanding inconsistent findings in burnout research and for selecting appropriate treatment strategies.

For a more in-depth exploration of the research, you can refer to the original article.