Early Warning Signs of Burnout and Functional Impairment in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

High rates of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress symptoms and diagnoses have been documented in healthcare personnel who care for patients with COVID-19. Using an anonymous electronic survey, U.S. researchers examined a broad range of symptoms in a sample of nearly 2600 frontline healthcare workers (i.e., physicians, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, dieticians, and chaplains) from New York's Mount Sinai Hospital during the COVID-19 surge in April and May, 2020.

Consistent with other surveys, 20% to 30% of the respondents displayed substantial symptoms of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress. Feeling tired/having low energy was the strongest predictor of burnout, with feeling depressed or hopeless and having lack of i…