Burnout syndrome (BS) is a cause of concern among doctors. Although some association between BS and psychopathology or addictive behaviour has been found, few studies evaluate its incidence in impaired physicians.

To evaluate the incidence of BS and the association with psychopathological/addictive disorders among doctors treated in a Physicians Programme of Barcelona.

66 physicians were evaluated. Variables studied included demographic, clinical and psychometric data of BS (Maslash Inventory, MBI), depression (Beck Inventory), anxiety (Spielberg S/T Inventory), general psychopathology (SCL-90-R) and personality (MCMI-II).

Forty doctors were male and 26 female. Mean age was 44.6 (8.4) years. 57.6% showed emotional exhaustion (EE), 28.8% depersonalization (D) and 10.6% lack of personal accomplishment (PA), 6.1% had complete BS. No gender differences were found. Associations between MBI and SCL-90-R subscales were (r>0.5): EE with Somatisation, Hostility and Anxiety, D with Hostility and PA with the Global severity index. BDI and STAI-S/T were associated with both three MBI factors. Correlations with MCMI-II scales (r>0.5) were: EE correlated with Avoidant and Self-Defeating, Schizotypal, Anxiety, Somatoform Disorder and Depression. D with Self-Defeating, Schizotypal, Anxiety, Somatoform Disorder, and Depression. PA with Schizoid, Schizotypal and Depression. No association was found for addictive scales.

EE is the most prevalent condition among sick doctors followed by D and PA, only 6% had complete Syndrome. As BS seems to be associated with depressive/anxiety symptoms, hostility and Schizotypal personality traits, such patients may be a target group for prevention and training in assertiveness and communication skills.