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Aronsson I, Neely AS, Boraxbekk CJ, Eskilsson T, Gavelin HM. "Recovery activities are needed every step of the way"-exploring the process of long-term recovery in people previously diagnosed with exhaustion disorder. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:248. [PMID: 38711137 PMCID: PMC11071262 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01756-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sick-leave rates are high due to stress-related illnesses, but little is still known about the process of recovery from these conditions. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the recovery process, 6 to 10 years after treatment in people previously diagnosed with exhaustion disorder (ED), focusing on facilitators and barriers for the process of recovery from ED, and recovery activities experienced as helpful during the recovery process. METHOD Thirty-eight participants (average age: 52 years, 32 females) previously diagnosed with ED were interviewed with semi-structured interviews 6-10 years after undergoing treatment. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis. RESULTS Three themes resulted from the analysis. The first theme, "A long and rocky road", summarizes the fluctuating path to feeling better and emphasizes barriers and facilitators that affected the process of recovery, with a focus on external life events and the participants' own behaviors. Facilitators were changing workplace, receiving support, a reduction in stressors, and changed behaviors. Barriers were a poor work environment, caregiver responsibilities, negative life events and lack of support. The second theme "Recovery activities are needed every step of the way" describes how both the need for recovery activities and the types of activities experienced as helpful changed during the recovery process, from low-effort recovery activities for long periods of time to shorter and more active recovery activities. Recovery activities were described as important for self-care but hard to prioritize in everyday life. The last theme, "Reorienting to a new place", captures the struggle to cope with the remaining impact of ED, and how internal facilitators in terms of understanding and acceptance were important to reorient and adjust to a new way of functioning. CONCLUSIONS Recovering from ED is a long and ongoing process where recovery activities are needed every step of the way. Our results highlight the importance of supporting personal recovery and long-term behavioral change, addressing individual stressors that may perpetuate the condition, and adjusting recovery activities according to where the person is in the recovery process. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0073772 . Registered on March 8, 2017. This study was pre-registered on Open Science Framework (osf.io).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingela Aronsson
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden.
| | - Anna Stigsdotter Neely
- Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
- Department of Social and Psychological Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Carl-Johan Boraxbekk
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Diagnostic Radiology, and Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen (ISMC) and Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Therese Eskilsson
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section for Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hanna M Gavelin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section for Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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van de Leur JC, Jovicic F, Åhslund A, McCracken LM, Buhrman M. Psychological Treatment of Exhaustion Due to Persistent Non-Traumatic Stress: A Scoping Review. Int J Behav Med 2024; 31:175-191. [PMID: 37308772 PMCID: PMC11001660 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-023-10185-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exhaustion due to persistent non-traumatic stress (ENTS) is a significant health problem with substantial personal, social, and economic impact. While there are increasing studies of ENTS, there is no international agreement on how it should be diagnosed and treated. This scoping review aimed to map definitions, diagnoses, treatments, outcome measures, and outcomes in psychological treatment studies of ENTS. A further aim was to assess the quality of the treatments and map what change processes are described within ENTS interventions. METHODS A PRISMA-guided scoping review of psychological treatment studies delivered in a clinical setting for ENTS was conducted using the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. RESULTS Of the 60 studies included, the majority (87%) stemmed from Europe. The most recurrent term for ENTS was burnout, and the diagnosis most often utilized was exhaustion disorder. Several treatments were reported, the most frequent being cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (68%). Statistically significant outcomes relevant to ENTS were reported in 65% (n = 39) of the studies, with effect sizes between 0.13 and 1.80. In addition, 28% of the treatments were rated as high quality. The most frequent change processes described were dysfunctional sleep, avoidance, behavioral activation, irrational thoughts and beliefs, worry, perceived competence/positive management, psychological flexibility, and recuperation. CONCLUSIONS While several treatments based on CBT show promising results for ENTS, there do not seem to be any uniformly established methods, theoretical models, or change processes. Instead of adopting a monocausal, syndromal, and potentially bio-reductionist perspective on ENTS, a process-based approach to treatment is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Clason van de Leur
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden.
- PBM Globen Rehab, Arenavägen 27, 121 77, Johanneshov, Sweden.
| | - Filip Jovicic
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
- Capio Centrum För Smärta Och Utmattning, Krukmakargatan 37A, 118 51, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Åhslund
- Capio Centrum För Smärta Och Utmattning, Krukmakargatan 37A, 118 51, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lance M McCracken
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Monica Buhrman
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
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van de Leur JC, Buhrman M, Wallby K, Karlström A, Johansson F. Associations between improvements in psychological variables and subsequent sick leave among persons receiving a multimodal intervention for exhaustion disorder. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1976. [PMID: 37821913 PMCID: PMC10568869 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16799-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of sick leave due to stress-related disorders such as exhaustion disorder (ED) is high in many economically developed countries. Meanwhile, knowledge about facilitating return to work during clinical interventions for ED patients is still limited. The current study aimed to investigate if improvements in exhaustion symptoms, insomnia, perfectionistic behaviors, psychological flexibility, and perceived work ability during treatment of ED were associated with subsequent sick leave in the year following treatment. METHODS Using a cohort of 880 ED patients who had participated in a multimodal intervention based on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, we estimated the association between one standard deviation (SD) improvement in treatment-related variables and the rate of net days of sick leave one-year following treatment. RESULTS Our results showed that improvements in all treatment-related variables were associated with lower sick leave rates one year following treatment. Improvements in exhaustion symptoms (rate ratio (RR): 0.70 [95% CI 0.66; 0.75]) and self-perceived work ability (RR 0.56 [95% CI 0.50; 0.63]) showed the strongest associations to subsequent sick leave. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that interventions focusing on exhaustion symptoms, insomnia, perfectionistic behaviors, psychological flexibility, and perceived work ability can have a meaningful impact on ED patients' subsequent sick leave. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03360136).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monica Buhrman
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, Uppsala, 751 42, Sweden
| | - Kajsa Wallby
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, Uppsala, 751 42, Sweden
| | - Amanda Karlström
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, Uppsala, 751 42, Sweden
| | - Fred Johansson
- Department of Health Promotion Science, Sophiahemmet University, Valhallavägen 91, SE- 114 28, Stockholm, Sweden
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Nelson A, Malmberg Gavelin H, Andersson M, Josefsson M, Eskilsson T, Slunga Järvholm L, Stigsdotter Neely A, Boraxbekk CJ. Subjective cognitive complaints and its associations to response inhibition and neural activation in patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder. Stress 2023; 26:2188092. [PMID: 36883330 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2188092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress-related exhaustion is associated with cognitive deficits, measured subjectively using questionnaires targeting everyday slips and failures or more objectively as performance on cognitive tests. Yet, only weak associations between subjective and objective cognitive measures in this group has been presented, theorized to reflect recruitment of compensational resources during cognitive testing. This explorative study investigated how subjectively reported symptoms of cognitive functioning and burnout levels relate to performance as well as neural activation during a response inhibition task. To this end, 56 patients diagnosed with stress-related exhaustion disorder (ED; ICD-10 code F43.8A) completed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a Flanker paradigm. In order to investigate associations between neural activity and subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) and burnout, respectively, scores on the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ) were added as covariates of interest to a general linear model at the whole-brain level. In agreement with previous research, the results showed that SCCs and burnout levels were largely unrelated to task performance. Moreover, we did not see any correlations between these self-report measures and altered neural activity in frontal brain regions. Instead, we observed an association between the PRMQ and increased neural activity in an occipitally situated cluster. We propose that this finding may reflect compensational processes at the level of basic visual attention which could go unnoticed in cognitive testing but still be reflected in the experience of deficits in everyday cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Nelson
- Department of Social and Psychological studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Central Hospital of Karlstad, Karlstad, Sweden
| | | | - Micael Andersson
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maria Josefsson
- Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research (CEDAR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Statistics, USBE, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Therese Eskilsson
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section for Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section for Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna Stigsdotter Neely
- Department of Social and Psychological studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
- Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts; Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Carl-Johan Boraxbekk
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen (ISMC) and Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Norström F, Järvholm LS, Eskilsson T. Healthcare utilisation among patients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder treated with a multimodal rehabilitation programme - a longitudinal observational study. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:642. [PMID: 36229810 PMCID: PMC9563845 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04300-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress-induced exhaustion disorder is a major challenge in Swedish working life. Despite its increase in prevalence, there is still limited knowledge about the effectiveness of different rehabilitation methods. In this study, we aim to describe the healthcare utilisation for patients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder before, during and after a multi-modal rehabilitation (MMR) programme, as well as the health-related quality of life, work ability, sick leave level and psychological measures, and their possible relations. METHODS In this longitudinal observational study, 53 patients who were part of an MMR programme at the Stress Rehabilitation Clinic participated with survey data, and among them 43 also contributed with healthcare data. Data were collected from one year before start of MMR to one year after the end of it. The patients also answered a questionnaire at the start of, end of and at a one-year follow-up of the MMR, which included questions about health-related quality of life, work ability, clinical burnout, sick leave level, anxiety and depression. RESULTS There was a statistically significant increase in healthcare consumption during MMR, if including visits to the Stress Rehabilitation Clinic, while it decreased if excluding such visits, when comparing with before and after MMR. During the follow-up period there was a non-statistically significant (p=0.11), but still rather large difference (15.4 compared with 12.0 visits per patient), in healthcare consumption in comparison with the period before MMR, when excluding follow-up visits at the Stress Rehabilitation Clinic. Health-related quality of life was rated as poor before MMR (mean 0.59). There was a statistically significant improvement, but values were still below normal at the end of follow-up (mean 0.70). In addition, the level of sick leave, the work ability and signs of clinical burnout improved statistically significantly after MMR, but were not fully normalised at the end of follow-up. Individual healthcare consumption was related to residual health problems. CONCLUSIONS Patients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder have not reduced their healthcare consumption notably after MMR, and residual health problems remain for some patients. More studies are needed for a deeper understanding of the individual effectiveness of MMR, and also of its cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Norström
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Therese Eskilsson
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ,grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Hadrévi
- a Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicines , Umeå University , Sweden
| | - Ingibjörg H Jonsdottir
- b The Institute of Stress Medicine , Gothenburg , Sweden Region Västra Götaland
- c Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Per-Anders Jansson
- d Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Jan W Eriksson
- e Department of Medical Sciences , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Anna Sjörs
- b The Institute of Stress Medicine , Gothenburg , Sweden Region Västra Götaland
- f Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
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Lennartsson AK, Sjörs A, Jonsdottir IH. Indication of attenuated DHEA-s response during acute psychosocial stress in patients with clinical burnout. J Psychosom Res 2015; 79:107-11. [PMID: 26071787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-s) is an anabolic protective hormone. We have previously reported that DHEA-s production capacity is attenuated in stressed individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the DHEA-s response during acute psychosocial stress in patients with clinical burnout. METHODS Seventeen patients with clinical burnout were compared to 13 non-chronically stressed healthy controls, aged 31-50 years (mean age 41 years, SD 6 years), as they underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). All patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for stress-related exhaustion disorder, which is a criteria-based diagnosis that has been used in Sweden since 2005 to define patients seeking health-care for clinical burnout. Blood samples were collected before, directly after the stress test, and after 30 min of recovery. DHEA-s levels were measured and delta values (peak levels minus baseline levels) plus area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCI) were calculated. RESULTS The patients had 43% smaller AUCI DHEA-s (p=0.041) during the stress test. The delta DHEA-s was 34% lower in the patients, however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.054). CONCLUSION The study indicates that DHEA-s production capacity during acute stress may be attenuated in patients with clinical burnout. Reduced DHEA-s production may constitute one of the links between stress, burnout and the associated adverse health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Sjörs
- The Institute of Stress Medicine, Göteborg, Sweden
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