European Psychiatry Trainees on Fire - Results from “the International Psychiatry Trainee Burnout Syndrome Study BOSS 2008”

Abstract

Psychiatric training is designed to educate psychiatrists to the highest standards of competence in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with mental disorders. At the same time, it may be an extremely stressful period characterized by intensive work demands, lack of job autonomy, poor salary, high degree of work-home interference and severe dilemmas regarding one's clinical skills. Trainees may be at increased risk of burnout syndrome and associated mental and physical health problems. Burnout syndrome is defined as a psychopathological reaction to prolonged occupational stress. Most recently, a unique international study - "The International Psychiatry Trainee Burnout Syndrome Study: Europe BOSS 2008” - was introduced across Europe in order to evaluate the prevalence and degree of burnout syndrome among psychiatry trainees. The aim is to use the study findings to improve the professional status and the working environment of young psychiatrists. The study itself is run through the national trainee associations in collaboration with the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees. At this point, fifteen countries are engaged - Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and UK. The sample comprises all trainees in the country. They are asked to complete the questionnaire, translated into their native language, by entering data directly into anonymised online database. The study has already started in France and Croatia, and next two countries are Hungary and Romania. Results from the study, as well as detailed study design and methodology will be presented and discussed.