Doctor’s Burnout Disappointed “Good Samaritan” Syndrome

by Mauro Cozzoli

Key words: empathy – stress – prevention – care – coping

Abstract: Like any helping profession, medical profession can suffer from burnout syndrome. Burnout is an English word which means a melting engine.

There are three contributing factors for the syndrome. The first consists of energy heavy expenditure and motivational exhaustion. So doctors, who live their profession as vocation and with total dedication, face emotional and spiritual exhaustion. The second consists of a conflict between corporate organization conditions and holistic and empathic conception and practice. The third is produced by subject’s dysfunctional emotional and spiritual background, which presents, on one hand, deficiencies and psycho-affective disorders, on the other, spirituality deficit.

Burnout syndrome is to be prevented and treated in three ways. Psychologically, by learning to manage affectivity, emotions and implementing coping strategies. Spiritually, by cultivating a spirituality of meanings, values, and purposes of life. Environmentally, by affecting medical work organization and management systems.