Neurologists Acknowledge High Level of Physician Burnout

Physician burnout is the experience of emotional exhaustion (loss of interest in practice), depersonalization (treating patients as objects), and career dissatisfaction (low self-value). Burnout can be measured objectively, and many specialty-specific studies have been published on the topic. In this review, the authors discuss evidence of high levels of neurologist burnout and methods to reduce burnout.

In one recent national survey of physician burnout, neurologists ranked third — higher than colleagues in primary care, who often earn lower salaries and have higher practice demands. More than half of neurologists reported at least one symptom of burnout; this is a point of great concern, due to the reported association of burnout in other …