The psychobiology of burnout: are there two different syndromes?
BACKGROUND
Plasma prolactin levels are sensitive to dopamine and serotonin function, and fatigue. Low cortisol, dopamine and/or serotonin may be involved in burnout and detachment.


METHODS
In this double-blind within-subject study, we treated 9 female burnout subjects and 9 controls with 35 mg cortisol and placebo orally. We measured state affect and plasma prolactin, oxytocin, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, and administered an attachment questionnaire.


RESULTS
The burnout subjects displayed an extreme distribution of basal prolactin levels, displaying higher or lower levels compared to the controls. The low prolactin burnouts had profoundly low attachment scores and tended to have low oxytocin levels. The high prolactin burnout subjects tended to show cortisol-induced decreased prolactin and fatigue, and increased vigor.


CONCLUSIONS
Results are consistent with the hypothesis that burnout subjects are either characterized by low serotonergic function or by low dopaminergic function, and that the latter group benefits from cortisol replacement. These preliminary results suggest that differentiating between two syndromes may resolve inconsistencies in research on burnout, and be necessary for selecting the right treatment strategy.
Tops
Mattie
M
Department of Experimental and Work Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. mtops@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Boksem
Maarten A S
MA
Wijers
Albertus A
AA
van Duinen
Hiske
H
Den Boer
Johan A
JA
Meijman
Theo F
TF
Korf
Jakob
J
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010121:Oxytocin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone