Is the road to burnout paved with perfectionism? The prevalence of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder in a clinical longitudinal sample of female patients with stress-related exhaustion.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have investigated the relationship between stress-related mental health problems and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Similarly, little research has focused on the moderating effect of OCPD on recovery in clinical patients with stress-related mental health problems. The general aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of OCPD and the associations between OCPD and level of burnout, anxiety, and depression symptoms, during a 7-years follow-up in a clinical longitudinal sample of female patients with stress-related exhaustion. METHOD: The included patients (n = 84) were referred to a specialist outpatient clinic for patients with stress-related exhaustion between 2006 and 2011. Data was collected at the initial examination and during a 7-year treatment follow-up. RESULTS: OCPD was the most common personality disorder in the present clinical sample, with 40% of patients fulfilling the criteria. There was a significant association between OCPD and the degree of burnout symptoms as well as the degree of depression, both at baseline and during the 7-year follow-up. No significant association between OCPD and levels of anxiety was observed. CONCLUSION: The results support the hypothesis that there might be an association between OCPD and stress-related exhaustion, including preservation of symptoms over time. OCPD and its related traits, such as perfectionism, may be important factors to consider when constructing effective treatment and rehabilitation plans for these patients.

DHEA-S production capacity in relation to perceived prolonged stress.

We and other research groups have previously described that levels of the anabolic hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) are lowered in individuals who report prolonged stress. We have also shown that the DHEA-S production capacity during acute stress is attenuated in individuals reporting high prolonged stress. This study aimed to further investigate the DHEA and DHEA-S production capacity in relation to prolonged stress. Eighty-one healthy participants in the age 20-50 years old were included in the study and divided into a low stress (n = 45) and a high stress group (n = 36) according their response to a single question regarding perceived stress during the preceding month. They underwent the Trier Social Stress Test while blood samples were drawn before, during and after the stress test. The concentration of DHEA, DHEA-S, cortisol and ACTH was measured. The results showed that the high stress group exhibited a significantly lower response of DHEA-S (40% lower) than the low stress group, while DHEA, cortisol and ACTH responses did not differ between the groups. Reduced DHEA-S production may constitute one of the links between stress and poor health.

The role of self-reported stressors in recovery from Exhaustion Disorder: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Exhaustion disorder (ED) is a stress-induced disorder characterized by physical and mental symptoms of exhaustion that can be long-lasting. Although stress exposure is essential for the development of ED, little is known regarding the role of stressors in the maintenance of ED. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of work-related stressors, private-related stressors, and adverse childhood experiences in long-term recovery from ED. METHODS: A mixed methods design was used. The design was sequential, and data analysis was performed in two parts, where the first part consisted of qualitative analysis of patient records, and the second part consisted of statistical analysis of the data retrieved from the qualitative coding. Patient records from 150 patients with ED was analysed regarding work-related stressors, private-related stressors, and adverse childhood experiences. For each patient, two patient records were analysed, one from the time of diagnosis (baseline) and one from the follow-up clinical assessment, 7-12 years after diagnosis (follow-up). Out of the 150 patients, 51 individuals still fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for ED at follow-up (ED group) and 99 individuals no longer fulfilled the diagnostic criteria and were thus considered recovered (EDrec). Percentages in each group (ED and EDrec) reporting each stressor at baseline and follow-up were calculated as well as the differences in percentage points between the groups along with the 95% confidence intervals for the differences. RESULTS: At baseline, significantly more EDrec patients reported quantitative demands (73% EDrec, 53% ED) and managerial responsibilities (14% EDrec, 2% ED). Private-related stressors did not differ at baseline. At follow-up, significantly more ED patients reported managerial responsibilities (8 ED, 0% EDrec) and caregiver stress (child) (24% ED, 6% EDrec) and significantly more EDrec patients reported caregiver stress (parent) (6% EDrec, 0% ED). There were no differences regarding adverse childhood experiences. CONCLUSIONS: The main conclusion is that neither adverse childhood experiences nor any of the stressors at baseline are associated with long-term ED. Ongoing stressors related to having responsibility for other people, such as managerial responsibilities or caring for a child with a chronic disease or psychiatric disorder, may be associated with long-term exhaustion.

Multilevel, risk group-oriented strategies to decrease sickness absence in the public sector: evaluation of interventions in two regions in Sweden.

PURPOSE: Sickness absence has been identified as needing to be addressed through multilevel interventions, but knowledge regarding optimal design and implementation of such interventions is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation and effects of a large-scale multilevel intervention in the public sector in Sweden. METHODS: The overall effect of the intervention was assessed using mixed-effect models. Sickness absence data (before, and 6 or 12 months after the intervention) for 90 intervention groups and 378 reference groups was retrieved from administrative personnel systems from the two participating regional councils. The implementation processes were evaluated using qualitative content analysis of qualitative interviews conducted at two timepoints. RESULTS: The results show that the vast majority of implemented measures were on an individual level and the integration of the intervention differed between the two regions. The reception and perception of the intervention activities seem to have been influenced by the implementation process, and how well the interventions were communicated and integrated, both regarding the integration of the different interventions and their integration into the discrete context and existing routines. No short-term overall effects on sickness absence were found. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the many challenges in implementing complex interventions, especially where organizational measures are involved-including adequate participation by, and communication between, the involved actors, as well as sufficient resources. The results indicate potential learning effects regarding the awareness of organizational factors in sick leave, after implementing and integrating multilevel strategies.

Exhaustion disorder and altered brain activity in frontal cortex detected with fNIRS.

Patients with stress-related Exhaustion Disorder (ED) have problems with memory and executive function. These problems have been associated with deviant activity in prefrontal cortex (PFC). We investigated cognitive performance and functional activity in the PFC during prolonged mental activity in patients with ED (n = 20, 16 women) with a mean duration since diagnosis of 46 ± 23 months in comparison to healthy individuals (n = 20, 12 women). A block of six neuropsychological tests was performed in a sequence that was repeated once. The brain imaging technique, functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used for all tests. There were no differences between the groups in terms of changes over time, i.e. difference between first and second test block. In the Stroop-Simon test, the controls showedhigher functional activity in the frontal cortex. In the left ventrolateral PFC, we observed an increased activity in controls in the incongruent compared to the congruent trials, whereas no changes were detected in the ED patient group. During processing speed tasks, only ED patients showed higher functional activity in right dorsolateral PFC. The ED patients reported lower subjective energy level and they also performed less well on a mental control task compared to healthy individuals. In conclusion, ED patients showed altered functional activity compared to controls, indicating that ED patients process information differently in the prefrontal cortex, but the functional activity did not change during the 2½ hr procedure, as revealed by the test-retest design. Lay summary In this paper we show that patient with exhaustion disorder have a reduced functional activity in the prefrontal cortex. This functional activity was not affected by 2.5 hours mental activity.

Self-reported changes in work situation - a cross-sectional study of patients 7 years after treatment for stress-related exhaustion.

BACKGROUND: Exhaustion disorder (ED) is a common cause of sick leave in Sweden, and patients often have long-lasting symptoms and reduced work capacity. The aim of this study was to explore whether patients with ED had made any changes in their work situation from the period of treatment and up to 7 years later. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients diagnosed with ED at a specialist outpatient clinic were followed up after 7 years (n = 217). They received questionnaires at baseline covering sex, age, marital status, level of education, and symptoms of burnout, depression, and anxiety measured with the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. After 7 years, they were sent a follow-up questionnaire asking about their work situation and work-related stressors both before they fell sick and at the 7-year follow-up. There were three questions on work situation (change of workplace, change of work tasks, and change of working hours), and 155 patients responded to all three. RESULTS: After 7 years, the majority of the patients (63%; n = 98/155) reported that they had made some kind of change at work. Women were more likely than men to report decreased working hours (p = 0.001), and work-related stressors such as conflicts at work, reorganization, deficient leadership, and general discontent with the work situation were significantly more common at baseline in the group who had made changes at work. Patients who made no changes at work experienced more work-related stress due to quantitative demands in the 7-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients with ED made some kind of change in their work situation, and gender differences were found for changes of work tasks and working hours. Work-related stressors might be decisive for making changes at work.

Self-reported cognitive impairment and daily life functioning 7-12 years after seeking care for stress-related exhaustion.

The overall aim of this study was to investigate self-reported cognitive difficulties, daily life activities, and health/sleep factors in former patients with exhaustion disorder (ED) who still fulfill the clinical criteria for exhaustion 7-12 years after seeking care. The Sahlgrenska Self-reported Cognitive Impairment Questionnaire (SASCI-Q) was used to measure cognitive difficulties, daily life activities, and health/sleep factors. Three groups were compared: previous patients still judged to be clinically exhausted seven years or more after seeking care (n = 51); previous patients considered clinically recovered (n = 98); and healthy controls (n = 50). Patients who still fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for ED reported widespread problems related to cognition, fatigue, and daily life functioning compared to the clinically recovered group. Furthermore, despite no longer fulfilling the clinical criteria, the recovered patients still reported more problems related to cognitive functioning and fatigue compared to healthy controls. Thus, this group appeared intermediary between the non-recovered group and healthy controls regarding self-reported cognitive functioning. To conclude, ED may have considerable negative long-term effects, and it is possible that some of these residual symptoms, particularly the cognitive problems and persistent fatigue, are permanent in some patients. Preventive measures should be the primary focus for all stakeholders, since the consequences of stress-related mental health problems seem to be extensive and long-lasting.

Pre-traumatic conditions can influence cortisol levels before and after a brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Satisfactory anabolic reactions, including the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are essential following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Many factors may influence this activation. This study aimed to investigate whether individuals who reported chronic diseases, psychosocial afflictions, or stressful events before a severe brain injury display a different pattern regarding cortisol levels retrospectively and up to three months compared with those who did not report stressful experiences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients aged 16-68 years who were admitted to the neurointensive care unit (NICU) were included. Hair cortisol measurements offer a unique opportunity to monitor cortisol levels retrospectively and after the trauma. Hair strands were collected as soon as possible after admission to the NICU and every month until three months after the injury/insult. The participants/relatives were asked about stressful events, psychosocial afflictions and recent and chronic diseases. RESULTS: The group who reported chronic diseases and/or stressful events before the brain injury had more than twice as high median hair cortisol levels before the brain injury compared with those who did not report stress, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .12). Those who reported stress before the brain injury had statistically significantly lower hair cortisol values after the brain injury and they remained until three months after the injury. CONCLUSIONS: Stressful events and/or chronic disease before brain injury might affect mobilization of adequate stress reactions following the trauma. However, the large variability in cortisol levels in these patients does not allow firm conclusions and more studies are needed.

Plasma metabolomic patterns in patients with exhaustion disorder.

Exhaustion disorder (ED) is a stress-related disorder that often implies a great burden on the individual patient as well as on society. Previous studies have shown that ED is associated with metabolic deviations, such as lowered fasting glucose. Several mechanisms have been discussed as a plausible explanation of the lack of energy described by these patients. Metabolic processes and reduced ability to mobilize energy have been suggested as important factors. This study investigated metabolomics in 20 patients diagnosed with ED and compared them with 21 healthy controls. Plasma metabolic profiles were examined in both fasting and nonfasting (postprandial) conditions. Blood plasma samples were analyzed for metabolite content using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. A total of 62 different metabolites were simultaneously detected in each of the samples. Multivariate models indicated systematic differences between patients with ED and healthy controls in both their fasting and nonfasting plasma metabolite levels. Lysine and octadecenoic acid were more abundant and glutamine, glycine, serine and gluconic acid were less abundant in the patients across both conditions. In the present study, we comprehensively and simultaneously screen for changes in a large number of metabolites. Our results show a difference in systemic metabolites between patients with exhaustion disorder and healthy controls both in the fasting and in the postprandial states. Here, we present new potential biomarkers mirroring exhaustion disorder metabolism. Lay summary Exhaustion disorder (ED) patients suffer from stress-related symptoms including a reduced energy level. This study investigates the body's metabolism in patients with ED, both fasting and after a meal. New potential markers that may help future investigations on ED were identified.

Physical activity on prescription in accordance with the Swedish model increases physical activity: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the effects of the core elements of the Swedish model for physical activity on prescription (PAP) by evaluating studies that compared adults who received PAP with adults who did not receive PAP. All participants were adults identified by a healthcare professional as in need of increased physical activity. Primary outcome was level of physical activity. DESIGN: Systematic review. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: (1) Published 1999. (2) Systematic review, randomised controlled trial (RCT), non-RCT or case series (for adverse events). (3) ≥12 weeks' follow-up. (4) Performed in the Nordic countries. (5) Presented in English, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish. DATA SOURCES: Systematic searches in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, AMED, CINAHL and SweMed+ in September 2017. Included articles were evaluated using checklists to determine risk of bias. RESULTS: Nine relevant articles were included: seven RCTs, one cohort study and one case series. Primary outcome was reported in seven articles from six studies (five RCTs, one cohort study, 642 participants). Positive results were reported from three of the five RCTs and from the cohort study. No study reported any negative results. Swedish PAP probably results in an increased level of physical activity (GRADE⊕⊕⊕Ο). CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of the reviewed articles was relatively modest, this systematic review shows that PAP in accordance with the Swedish model probably increases the level of physical activity. As a model for exercise prescription, Swedish PAP may be considered as part of regular healthcare to increase physical activity in patients.

Cognitive medicine - a new approach in health care science.

BACKGROUND: The challenges of today's society call for more knowledge about how to maintain all aspects of cognitive health, such as speed/attention, memory/learning, visuospatial ability, language, executive capacity and social cognition during the life course. MAIN TEXT: Medical advances have improved treatments of numerous diseases, but the cognitive implications have not been sufficiently addressed. Disability induced by cognitive dysfunction is also a major issue in groups of patients not suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Recent studies indicate that several negative lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of cognitive impairment, but intervention and prevention strategies have not been implemented. Disability due to cognitive failure among the workforce has become a major challenge. Globally, the changing aging pyramid results in increased prevalence of cognitive disorders, and the diversity of cultures influences the expression, manifestation and consequences of cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Major tasks in the field of cognitive medicine are basic neuroscience research to uncover diverse disease mechanisms, determinations of the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction, health-economical evaluations, and intervention studies. Raising awareness for cognitive medicine as a clinical topic would also highlight the importance of specialized health care units for an integrative approach to the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions.

Executive function and attention in patients with stress-related exhaustion: perceived fatigue and effect of distraction.

Cognitive impairment has frequently been shown in patients who seek medical care for stress-related mental health problems. This study aims to extend the current knowledge of cognitive impairments in these patients by focusing on perceived fatigue and effects of distraction during cognitive testing. Executive function and attention were tested in a group of patients with stress-related exhaustion (n = 25) and compared with healthy controls (n = 25). Perceived fatigue was measured before, during and after the test session, and some of the tests were administered with and without standardized auditory distraction. Executive function and complex attention performance were poorer among the patients compared to controls. Interestingly, their performance was not significantly affected by auditory distraction but, in contrast to the controls, they reported a clear-cut increase in mental tiredness, during and after the test session. Thus, patients with stress-related exhaustion manage to perform during distraction but this was achieved at a great cost. These findings are discussed in terms of a possible tendency to adopt a high-effort approach despite cognitive impairments and the likelihood that such an approach will require increased levels of effort, which can result in increased fatigue. We tentatively conclude that increased fatigue during cognitive tasks is a challenge for patients with stress-related exhaustion and plausibly of major importance when returning to work demanding high cognitive performance.

Working memory and attention are still impaired after three years in patients with stress-related exhaustion.

Cognitive impairment is one of the most pronounced symptoms reported by patients with stress-related mental health problems. Impairments related to executive function and to some extent speed and attention are therefore common in patients with stress-related burnout/exhaustion. In this paper we present a follow-up of cognitive performance in patients with stress-related exhaustion several years after they initially sought medical care. Thirty patients and 27 healthy controls, mean age 49 years (SD 6.5) and 55 years (SD 6.7) respectively, were included, all of whom had undergone baseline measurements of neuropsychological functioning. The mean follow-up time was three years. Half of the patients still reported mental health problems at follow-up and over time no major changes in cognitive performance were noted. The patients still performed significantly poorer than controls with regard to cognitive functions, mainly related to speed, attention and memory function. Long-lasting impairment of cognitive functions related to speed, attention and memory function noted in patients with stress-related exhaustion should be acknowledged and taken into consideration during treatment and when discussing a return to work. Follow-up periods longer than three years are needed to explore the persistence of the cognitive impairment.

Changes in mental health in compliers and non-compliers with physical activity recommendations in patients with stress-related exhaustion.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research regarding the long-lasting effects of a more physically active lifestyle in patients with mental disorders. In the present study, clinical data were analysed to examine if initially physically inactive patients, clinically diagnosed with stress-related exhaustion, taking part in 12-month multimodal treatment (MMT), differ at the 18-month follow-up regarding mental health, depending on whether they did or did not comply with the physical activity (PA) recommendations resembling those of the American College of Sports Medicine. METHODS: The study population consisted of 69 patients (65% women) who were referred to a stress clinic due to stress-related exhaustion. All patients received MMT. A major goal was to increase patients' PA levels. The patients received general comprehensive instructions including personal advice regarding the positive effects of PA on mental health and could self-select for an 18-week coached exercise program. Changes in mental health symptoms over an 18-month period were compared between non-compliers (n = 26), mild compliers (n = 22) and strong compliers (n = 21) with the PA recommendations included in the MMT. RESULTS: Non-compliers, mild and strong compliers did not differ regarding burnout, depression and anxiety at baseline. Although substantial improvements occurred in all groups, mild and strong compliers reported significantly lower burnout and depression levels at the 18-month follow-up than the non-complying group (p < .05). The general pattern of findings was corroborated, if standard cut-off criteria for clinical burnout were used. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with PA recommendations is associated with decreased levels of burnout and depression in patients with stress-related exhaustion. Thus, the promotion of a more active lifestyle among patients with stress-related exhaustion should be implemented as a part of MMT, to achieve a more sustainable decrease of symptoms of burnout and depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This is not a clinical trial.

Promoting graded exercise as a part of multimodal treatment in patients diagnosed with stress-related exhaustion.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine, by using patient cohort data, the changes in exercise habits during a 12-month multimodal treatment period, in patients seeking specialist care for stress-related exhaustion. BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials have greatly contributed to the fact that both physicians and patients regard regular exercise participation as a highly valuable and effective treatment for mental health disorders. Nevertheless, little is known about the adherence to physical activity recommendations for patients with stress-related mental problems in a clinical setting. Knowledge about what can be achieved within the clinical context, and how current treatments can be improved, is crucial for clinicians, researchers, educators, managers and policy makers involved in nursing practice. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis of patient cohort data. METHODS: The sample consisted of 169 patients (79% women; mean age = 42·7 years) who were referred to a stress clinic due to stress-related exhaustion. All patients received multimodal treatment with similar components. Two different approaches to promote exercise were used in the clinical work (general comprehensive instruction either with or without an 18-week coached exercise programme). The self-reported overall exercise level was assessed at baseline and at three, six and 12 months after the first visit. Group by time effects were examined with repeated measures analyses of variance. RESULTS: The frequency, duration and intensity of exercise increased substantially during the first three months of multimodal treatment. Although exercise levels tended to decrease thereafter, there was still a significant time effect at the 12-month follow-up showing that follow-up exercise levels were higher than at baseline. CONCLUSION: Both general exercise instructions and coached exercise were effective in promoting exercise involvement. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Exercise can be successfully promoted as a part of multimodal treatment in patients with stress-related exhaustion.

Prevalence and course of somatic symptoms in patients with stress-related exhaustion: does sex or age matter.

BACKGROUND: Both mental and somatic symptoms are commonly reported in patients with stress-related problems. We have explored the prevalence of somatic symptoms in patients seeking medical care for stress-related mental health problems and followed the course of illness alongside with that the patients receive multimodal treatment. METHOD: This study comprises data from 228 patients (69% women, mean age 43 years) who fulfilled the criteria for Exhaustion Disorder (ED). Somatic symptoms were assessed at baseline and after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months using the one-page questionnaire Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Prevalence of different symptoms was compared between men and women and patients, over and below 40 years of age, and possible predictors of recovery were explored. RESULTS: Tiredness and low energy are the core symptom reported by the patients. Almost all (98%) reported at least one somatic symptom and 45% reported six symptoms or more, which was similar for men and women. Nausea, gas or indigestion are the most common symptoms (67%) followed by headaches (65%) and dizziness (57%). The number of symptoms reported was significantly related to the severity of mental health problems. The only difference between the sexes was that "chest pain" and "pain or problems during sexual intercourse" were more common among males. Patients over forty more often reported "pain in arms, legs or joints, knees, hips" and this was also the only symptom that did not significantly decline during treatment. Neither sex, age, symptom duration before seeking medical care, education or any other predictor tested was shown to predict recovery in patients reporting six symptoms or more. CONCLUSION: A heavy burden of somatic symptoms was generally seen in most patients with stress-related exhaustion. Somatic symptoms are equally common in males and females and in younger and older patients. The somatic symptoms seem to be mostly stress-related since all symptoms, except musculoskeletal pain, reduce with individualised treatment designed for stress-related mental problems. This study brings to attention the complicated burden of both somatic and mental symptoms in patients with stress-related exhaustion, raising several clinical implications of interest to discuss.

Self-reported stressors among patients with exhaustion disorder: an exploratory study of patient records.

BACKGROUND: Several researchers imply that both work-related and non-work-related stress exposure are likely to contribute to stress-related mental illness. Yet empirical studies investigating both domains seem to be limited, particularly in a clinical population. The purpose of this study was to a) explore which stressors (non-work and work-related) are reported as important for the onset of illness by patients seeking medical care for stress-related exhaustion and b) explore the prevalence of each stressor and examine whether the pattern differs between men and women. METHODS: This is an exploratory mixed method study, comprising patients at a specialist outpatient stress clinic. Information from medical records of 20 patients was initially used in a first qualitative step to construct the instrument, using a combination of a conventional content analysis and a directed content analysis. In the second phase patient records from 50 men and 50 women were selected and coded in accordance with the coding instrument. Frequency statistics were calculated for all stressors. RESULTS: A total of 24 categories of stressors (11 related to work and 13 related to private life) were identified in the first qualitative step. A median of four stressors, usually both work and non-work-related was reported by the patients. The most common stressors were 1) quantitative demands at work, 2) private relational conflicts and 3) emotional demands at work. CONCLUSIONS: Work demands are, by far, the most prevalent stressor, followed by relational problems in private life. The pattern was similar for women and men, with a slight difference in the distribution between work and non-work stressors. Men and women also show similar patterns when comparing the occurrence of each stressor. Slight differences were seen, in particular with regard to managerial responsibility that was reported by 6% of the women compared to 36% of the men. One important practical implication of this study is that patients with stress-related exhaustion often have a long period of impaired ability at work. Successful prevention at the workplace is thus of great importance. However, it is equally important to discuss how society can support individuals such as single parents or couples with relational conflicts.

Psychologists' involvement in and experiences of treating patients with stress-related exhaustion in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Primary health care is the setting for most patients with stress-related mental health problems. Good care processes are important for patients with stress-related mental health problems and the complex needs of these patients has become a challenge for primary care settings which is traditionally designed to manage acute episodes of one illness. The care process of these patients is thus interesting to investigate. The aim of this study was to explore psychologists´ involvement and experiences regarding the organisation of the care process and treatment of patients seeking care for stress-related exhaustion. METHOD: Fifteen psychologists (14 women and 1 man, age range 27-72 years)c from fifteen different primary health care centres in the western part of Sweden, located in both rural and urban areas were included. Qualitative content analysis of individual semi-structured interviews was conducted. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in eight subcategories within the two main categories studied illuminating psychologists' involvement and experiences regarding the organisation of the care process and challenges regarding treatment of patients seeking care for stress-related exhaustion. CONCLUSION: The care process of patients with stress-related exhaustion is perceived to be ineffective and not congruent with the needs of the patients. A lack of holistic overview of the care process, a lack of collaboration and poor utilization of the health care professionals' competence leads to an unstructured process forcing the patients to be the carriers and coordinators of their own care.

Increased plasma levels of neuro-related proteins in patients with stress-related exhaustion: A longitudinal study.

Exhaustion disorder (ED) is a stress-related disorder characterized by physical and mental symptoms of exhaustion. Recent data suggest that pathophysiological processes in the central nervous system are involved in the biological mechanisms underlying ED. The aims of this study were to investigate if plasma levels of neuro-related proteins differ between patients with ED and healthy controls, and, if so, to investigate if these differences persist over time. Using the Olink Neuro Exploratory panel, we quantified the plasma levels of 92 neuro-related proteins in 163 ED patients at the time of diagnosis (baseline), 149 patients at long-term follow-up (7-12 years later, median follow-up time 9 years and 5 months), and 100 healthy controls. We found that the plasma levels of 40 proteins were significantly higher in the ED group at baseline compared with the control group. Out of these, the plasma levels of 36 proteins were significantly lower in the ED group at follow-up compared with the same group at baseline and the plasma levels of four proteins did not significantly differ between the groups. At follow-up, the plasma levels of two proteins were significantly lower in the ED group compared with the control group. These data support the hypothesis that pathophysiological processes in the central nervous system are involved in the biological mechanisms underlying ED.

Worry perception and its association with work conditions among healthcare workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a web-based multimethod survey at a university hospital in Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we explored healthcare workers' (HCWs) worry perception and its association with their work situation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: A web-based multimethods survey including multiple choice and open-ended questions was used. SETTING: The study was conducted at a university hospital in Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: All HCWs who were working during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March-June 2020 were eligible. HCWs (n=6484, response rate=41%) from 69 departments fulfilled the study inclusion criteria and responded to the survey. Of them, we analysed data from the 3532 participants who replied to the open-ended questions (54% of the respondents). MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Worry perception and its association with work conditions among HCWs. RESULTS: 29% (n=1822) and 35% (n=2235) of the responding HCWs experienced a daily or more than daily strong worry of being infected or infecting others with SARS-CoV-2. This finding could be further confirmed and explored with themes from the qualitative results: 'ambiguity of feeling safe and secure', 'being obliged to adapt to a new reality' and 'into the unknown'. The themes consisted of 6 main categories and 15 subcategories. The findings revealed that the two main drivers of worry perceived by HCWs were lack of personal protective equipment and fear of bringing the virus home to their families and friends. CONCLUSIONS: Worries of getting infected are common among HCWs during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors are raised that plausibly could minimise the negative effects of worry among HCWs. Thus, effective preventive work plans should be created, promoted and communicated in order to minimise the effects of such crises and support HCWs. By focusing on effective communication and preparedness, including access to relevant protective equipment and providing general support to HCWs, the work environment and patient care could be sustained during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.