Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Neuropsychological sequelae of work-stress-related exhaustion

Österberg, Kai LU ; Skogsliden, Sofia LU and Karlson, Björn LU (2013) In Stress 17(1). p.59-69
Abstract
The aim was to assess long-term cognitive performance after substantial recovery from work-stress-related exhaustion, in relation to subjective cognitive complaints and return to active work. In total, 54 patients previously diagnosed with work-stress-related exhaustion participated in a neuropsychological examination similar to 2 years after initial sick leave. Most participants were substantially recovered at follow-up, with only 13% still meeting the criteria for exhaustion disorder suggested by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. When participants' scores on 14 neuropsychological tests were compared to a matched group of 50 controls, the former patient group showed lower performance mainly on attention tests of the... (More)
The aim was to assess long-term cognitive performance after substantial recovery from work-stress-related exhaustion, in relation to subjective cognitive complaints and return to active work. In total, 54 patients previously diagnosed with work-stress-related exhaustion participated in a neuropsychological examination similar to 2 years after initial sick leave. Most participants were substantially recovered at follow-up, with only 13% still meeting the criteria for exhaustion disorder suggested by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. When participants' scores on 14 neuropsychological tests were compared to a matched group of 50 controls, the former patient group showed lower performance mainly on attention tests of the reaction time type, but also slightly lower scores on visuo-spatial constructional ability. However, the former patient group performed better than controls on two memory tests and, in part, on a test of simultaneous capacity. Self-ratings of everyday cognitive problems remained significantly higher in the former patient group than among controls, but the extent of self-rated cognitive problems was generally unrelated to performance on the neuropsychological tests. No relationship between performance on these tests and the extent of work resumption was observed. In summary, persons with previous work-stress-related exhaustion showed persistent signs of a minor attention deficit, despite considerable general recovery and return to work. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Attention, burnout, cognitive, executive functions, memory, mood, neuropsychological tests, work stress
in
Stress
volume
17
issue
1
pages
59 - 69
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000328946000006
  • scopus:84890935510
  • pmid:24188506
ISSN
1025-3890
DOI
10.3109/10253890.2013.862615
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4622a472-f359-4c2a-898f-2d43ce099633 (old id 4261825)
alternative location
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10253890.2013.862615
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:06:21
date last changed
2022-03-29 05:34:16
@article{4622a472-f359-4c2a-898f-2d43ce099633,
  abstract     = {{The aim was to assess long-term cognitive performance after substantial recovery from work-stress-related exhaustion, in relation to subjective cognitive complaints and return to active work. In total, 54 patients previously diagnosed with work-stress-related exhaustion participated in a neuropsychological examination similar to 2 years after initial sick leave. Most participants were substantially recovered at follow-up, with only 13% still meeting the criteria for exhaustion disorder suggested by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. When participants' scores on 14 neuropsychological tests were compared to a matched group of 50 controls, the former patient group showed lower performance mainly on attention tests of the reaction time type, but also slightly lower scores on visuo-spatial constructional ability. However, the former patient group performed better than controls on two memory tests and, in part, on a test of simultaneous capacity. Self-ratings of everyday cognitive problems remained significantly higher in the former patient group than among controls, but the extent of self-rated cognitive problems was generally unrelated to performance on the neuropsychological tests. No relationship between performance on these tests and the extent of work resumption was observed. In summary, persons with previous work-stress-related exhaustion showed persistent signs of a minor attention deficit, despite considerable general recovery and return to work.}},
  author       = {{Österberg, Kai and Skogsliden, Sofia and Karlson, Björn}},
  issn         = {{1025-3890}},
  keywords     = {{Attention; burnout; cognitive; executive functions; memory; mood; neuropsychological tests; work stress}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{59--69}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Stress}},
  title        = {{Neuropsychological sequelae of work-stress-related exhaustion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10253890.2013.862615}},
  doi          = {{10.3109/10253890.2013.862615}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}