When therapist run out of steam : professional boredom or burnout?

Abstract

«Burnout» is a syndrome consisting of physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from negative self-concept, negative job attitudes, and loss of concern for clients. This theoretical condition tangentially explains the loss of professional efficacy and became a quasi-clinical concept. Nevertheless, burnout questionnaires do not measure loss of professional efficacy. The attribution of this loss remains understudied. Some allege that over 50% of therapists and health workers suffer from burnout, but these results warrant scepticism on account of the overlap with loss of motivation. A main prodromal factor in the loss of professional efficacy is a loss of motivation or «disenchantment», possibly caused by occupational boredom. A sequence boredom loss of motivation burnout means that therapist efficacy loss depends on continuing professional education (CPE) and peer monitoring. Self-monitoring for motivation is important. National professional practice rules should be tuned to these requirements.