EEG Findings in Burnout Patients
Gilles van Luijtelaar, Marc Verbraak, Martijn van den Bunt, M.Sc., Ger Keijsers and Martijn Arns, M.Sc.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 22:208-217, Spring
doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.22.2.208
Received February 6, 2009; revised June 6, 2009; accepted June 15, 2009.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 22:208-217, Spring
doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.22.2.208
Received February 6, 2009; revised June 6, 2009; accepted June 15, 2009.
Dr. van Luijtelaar and Dr. van den Bunt are affiliated with Donders Center for Cognition at Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands; Dr. Verbraak is affiliated with HSK Group Arnhem, Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Dr. Keijsers is affiliated with Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Dr. Arns is affiliated with Brainclinics Diagnostics B.V., Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Address correspondence to Dr. Gilles van Luijtelaar, DCC, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; g.vanluijtelaar@donders.ru.nl (e-mail).
The concept of burnout remains enigmatic since it is only determined by behavioral characteristics. Moreover, the differential diagnosis with depression and chronic fatigue syndrome is difficult. EEG-related variables in 13 patients diagnosed with burnout syndrome were compared with 13 healthy comparison subjects in order to explore the existence of neurobiological markers for burnout. Burnout patients showed reduced P300 amplitude, a lower alpha peak frequency and reduced beta power. These EEG-related differences in burnout patients differ from those described in the literature in depression and chronic fatigue patients. Our preliminary findings suggest that burnout might be considered as a separate clinical syndrome.
