Burnout is, one might say, a subcortical event (generated in the amygdala?)—not a cortical process like the “why” questions that beg for answers. Admittedly, however, the cumulative burden of practice frustrations—especially the inability to erase the personal, social, financial, and vocational stigmata that plague our patients’ lives—can, eventually, take a toll on our morale and quality of life.
Fortunately, we psychiatrists generally are a resilient breed. We can manage personal stress using techniques that we employ in our practices. That might be why burnout is lower in psychiatry than it is in other medical specialties.
Henry A. Nasrallah, MD
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychiatry
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri