“I’m So Tired”: Fatigue as a Persistent Physical Symptom among Working People Experiencing Exhaustion Disorder

Elín Broddadóttir, Sigrún Ólafsdóttir Flóvenz, Haukur Freyr Gylfason, Þórey Þormar, Hjalti Einarsson, Paul Salkovskis and Jón Friðrik Sigurðsson
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Elín Broddadóttir: Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
Sigrún Ólafsdóttir Flóvenz: Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
Haukur Freyr Gylfason: Department of Business, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
Þórey Þormar: Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
Hjalti Einarsson: Stett.is, Icelandic Confederation of University Graduates, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland
Paul Salkovskis: Oxford Centre for Psychological Health, Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Oxford Cognitive Therapy Center, Warneford Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
Jón Friðrik Sigurðsson: Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: Fatigue is widespread in the population, particularly among working people. Exhaustion disorder (ED), a clinical manifestation of burnout, is common, but, after treatment, about one-third still experience fatigue and other physical symptoms. We propose that in some instances, fatigue as a persistent physical symptom (PPS) might be a more appropriate formulation of ED patients’ fatigue problems, and we suggest that ED patients who meet fatigue PPS criteria will differ from other ED patients in terms of psychological distress, non-fatigue PPSs and functional impairment. Questionnaires were sent to 10,956 members of a trade union of which 2479 (22.6%) responded. Of 1090 participants who met criteria for ED, 106 (9.7%) met criteria for fatigue as a PPS. Participants who met fatigue PPS criteria scored on average higher on measures of depression, anxiety and functional impairment and were more likely to have clinically significant scores. Moreover, they had 27 times higher odds of meeting other PPS subtypes and reported more non-fatigue PPS subtypes, suggesting a more complex health problem. Specific evidence-based interventions are available for both ED and PPSs, and therefore, it is crucial to accurately formulate the fatigue problem reported by patients to provide appropriate treatment.

Keywords: persistent physical symptoms; medically unexplained symptoms; exhaustion disorder; burnout; depression; anxiety; functional impairment; stress-related disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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