title: Burnout is associated with elevated prolactin levels in men but not in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolactin levels have been shown to be increased by different types of psychosocial stress. Since burnout is a consequence of long-term psychosocial stress, prolactin levels might also be affected in burnout. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in prolactin levels between individuals who report burnout and others.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morning fasting serum prolactin levels were compared between individuals who reported burnout (24 men and 25 women) and individuals who reported no burnout (25 men and 13 women). Women were tested in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Men and women were analysed separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men who reported burnout exhibited significantly higher (34%) serum prolactin levels compared to men who reported no burnout. The prolactin levels in women who reported burnout were not different from the levels in the women who reported no burnout before or after adjusting for estradiol levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that prolactin levels are higher in men with burnout than men without burnout but not affected in women with burnout. Why no association was seen in women needs to be further explored.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Stress Medicine, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22 B, 413 19 Göteborg, Sweden. Electronic address: anna-karin.lennartsson@vgregion.se.
authors.forename: Anna-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lennartsson
authors.affiliation: The Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Billig
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Stress Medicine, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22 B, 413 19 Göteborg, Sweden; The Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingibjörg H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Jonsdottir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000097:blood; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Burnout; Men and women; Prolactin; Prolonged stress