The structural and dynamic analysis of the clinical-psychopathological components of emotional burnout and professional disappointment in psychiatrists during the war

Abstract

In order to evaluate and meaningful structural-dynamic analysis of psychopathological manifestations of emotional burnout (EB) and professional maladjustment (MA) in psychiatrists during the war 120 psychiatrists who worked in Kyiv in the period from February 24, 2022, during 2022, were examined. The comprehensive examination included the use of clinical-psychopathological, psychodiagnostic and psychometric research methods. Psychiatrists showed a wide range of expressiveness of manifestations of EB and violations of pro- fessional MA — from their absence to a high level. In most of the examined (47.5 %), EB and MA corresponded to a moderate level (this level requires medical and psychological assistance from rehabi- litation specialists). The specific weight of doctors with a low level of EB and professional MA was also significant (30.8 %) (such doctors, it may be recommended to conduct consultative work in a preven- tive direction). The share of doctors with pronounced and high levels of EB and MA was significantly lower (21.7 %) (such doctors require the mandatory intervention of specialists to apply urgent medical and psychological measures, carry out a program for readaptation or change professional activity). Psychiatrists with manifestations of EV and professional MA of varying degrees of severity showed signs of depressive and anxiety disorders, while anxiety manifestations were more expressive than depressive ones. In doctors with individual manifestations of MA, depressive symptoms corresponded to a mild level, and anxiety symptoms corresponded to an average level, while in doctors with an estab- lished MA, signs of depressive disorders were found at a close to moderate level, and anxiety indicators were of a medium or high level. Psychiatrists with manifestations of EV and professional MA of various degrees of severity are char- acterized by manifestations of a wide spectrum of psychopathological symptoms of varying intensity and variability, the leading place among which is occupied by manifestations of depression, anxiety, somatization, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. At the same time, among doctors without signs of MA, the indicators of expressiveness of psychopathological symptoms correspond to a low level, and among doctors with manifestations of MA — to an average and high level. The highest indicators of expressiveness of psychopathological symptoms were found in the group of doctors with an established MA, and significantly lower — in the group of doctors with individual signs of MA. The revealed regularities should be taken into account when developing treatment and preventive measures for this contingent of respondents.