Neuropsychological sequelae of work-stress-related exhaustion

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 ∼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.

• Attention
• burnout
• cognitive
• executive functions
• memory
• mood
• neuropsychological tests
• work stress

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Birgitta Pålsson, BSc, Birgitta Malmberg, PhD, MD, Ylva Oudin, MD, Eva Tekavec, MD, Anna-Therese Gunnskog, MD, Jonatan Axelsson, MD and Kristin Mattson, MD, for medical assessments, and to Lisbeth Prahl for administrative work. Thanks also to Anna Stigsdotter Neely, Umeå University, for supplying the 5-QEMP questionnaire.