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This study aimed to examine the convergent validity of a new measure of burnout, the Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM) by comparison against the field standard measure - the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). A second aim was to consider burnout's association with psychological distress. 1483 dental professionals completed the two burnout measures as well as two measures of psychological distress. The overall correlation between total scores on the two measures (and on shared constructs) was high, and thus the convergent validity of the SBM was supported. Further, the SBM and MBI total scores correlated highly with total scores on the two measures of distress. Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) also identified substantial overlap between the measures, especially in relation to the exhaustion subscales of the burnout measures and their overlap with psychological distress items. While future research is required to determine which burnout measure and its associated burnout definition is most valid, our findings argue for further consideration of how burnout may best be conceptualized, as well as whether the syndrome is worthy of elevation to mental disorder status., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Burnout is currently operationalised as comprising of exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. However, questions have been raised as to whether this three-factor model accurately characterises the syndrome. We therefore sought to re-examine burnout's key symptoms and to develop a new model of the syndrome. 622 participants who self-identified as experiencing burnout completed a questionnaire covering a large item set of candidate burnout symptoms. Bifactor modelling identified a 34-item general factor that was dominated by items capturing exhaustion and cognitive dysfunction, but which also included items indicative of decreased work performance, insularity and a depressed mood. Five specific factors capturing additional data variance were identified and were interpreted as representing cognitive impairment, empathy loss, exhaustion, compromised work performance, and social withdrawal. Reliability indices indicated that the general factor alone accounted for most of the variance in observed scale scores for each specific factor, except for the loss of empathy specific factor. We concluded that burnout may therefore potentially be modelled as a unidimensional construct comprising exhaustion, cognitive impairment, compromised work performance, empathy loss and social withdrawal. Further, while those with burnout are likely to experience depressive symptoms, their presence is not of necessity indicative of clinical depression., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

There has been a longstanding debate as to whether the bipolar disorders differ categorically or dimensionally, with some dimensional or spectrum models including unipolar depressive disorders within a bipolar spectrum model. We analysed manic/hypomanic symptom data in samples of clinically diagnosed bipolar I, bipolar II and unipolar patients, employing latent class analyses to determine if separate classes could be identified. Mixture analyses were also undertaken to determine if a unimodal, bimodal or a trimodal pattern was present. For both a refined 15-item set and an extended 30-item set of manic/hypomanic symptoms, our latent class analyses favoured three-class solutions, while mixture analyses identified trimodal distributions of scores. Findings argue for a categorical distinction between unipolar and bipolar disorders, as well as between bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. Future research should aim to consolidate these results in larger samples, particularly given that the size of the unipolar group in this study was a salient limitation., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Whether depression and burnout are synonymous or not has been a longstanding debate. Many studies have examined for similarities and differences, but findings have overall been inconclusive, with most studies being quantitative in design. We therefore undertook a qualitative study in which participants who self-identified as having experienced both burnout and depression were asked how they distinguished between the two conditions. Thematic qualitative analysis was undertaken and while a fifth of the sample stated that their burnout and depression experiences were indistinguishable or were very similar, we also identified 11 key themes of difference. The most prevalent themes captured differences in the perceived cause of each condition, in experiencing hopelessness as against helplessness, and impacts on levels of functioning, sadness, anger, anxiety and emotional lability. We also identified differences in suicidal ideation between the two conditions. While some differences identified could be dimensional and suggest that burnout is simply synonymous with or a developmental phase of depression, the several categorical symptom differences nominated by participants suggest that most sufferers who have experienced both conditions perceive them as distinct. Such 'lived experience' reports are therefore intrinsically informative and should shape further quantitative analyses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

There is widespread debate as to how to accurately define and measure burnout. The present study sought to address these issues by inviting participants who self-identified as experiencing burnout to complete a questionnaire covering a large item set of putative burnout features. Bifactor modelling identified a 'general' factor with items capturing exhaustion as well as psychological and cognitive dysfunction. Three additional 'specific' factors were also generated that delineated work-focused, inability to feel and compromised work functioning constructs. Similar factors were found when those still working and those no longer working were compared. Results indicate a new heuristic diathesis-stress model of burnout., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mood disorders may lead to major life consequences. This study builds on our preliminary examination of the impact of an extensive set of consequences and was undertaken in a larger clinical sample. Two hundred and forty four adults diagnosed with either unipolar depressive disorder or a bipolar disorder (type I or II) were administered an online survey of 60 items, listing potential consequences of having a mood disorder. Participants estimated the degree of impact (0-100) of each consequence on their life initially, and in the longer term. Items loading highly on the first 'general' factor of a bi-factor analysis were examined. Most items were affirmed by at least 75% of the sample. Significant group differences emerged on ten items. The bipolar group was 1.44-2.27 times more likely to experience difficulty with debts, education, speeding fines, increased risk of harm and delayed family planning. The unipolar group was 1.11-1.67 times more likely to experience social withdrawal, lowered life satisfaction, decreased overall wellbeing and ambition, and missed opportunities. Only one positive consequence (i.e. increased empathy) was identified. This extensive range of mood disorder consequences was highly endorsed by both BP and UP patients and with substantial immediate and ongoing impacts reported., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)