Association between Personal Burnout and Depression after First Stroke of Working-age patients in Thailand: A one-year follow-up study

Abstract

Background: Personal burnout is characterized by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to prolonged stress or excessive demands. Individuals recovering from a stroke often experience significant physical and cognitive challenges during their recovery process, which can lead to increased fatigue and emotional strain. This physical and emotional exhaustion can contribute to the development or worsening of depressive symptoms. Objective: To investigate the relationship between personal burnout at baseline and depressive symptoms after stroke over one-year Methods: The study enrolled 103 participants who experienced their first stroke during working-age patients. The study period was 12 months. Personal burnout was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) at baseline, while depressive symptoms were measured using the Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline, six months, and 12 months during the follow-up period. The study employed Generalized Estimating Equations to investigate the longitudinal relationship between personal burnout at baseline and depression over the course of one year. Results: High personal burnout showed a significant association with depression scores over a 1-year period, (coefficient 3.257; 95% CI: 2.299, 4.215). Conclusions: The high personal burnout score predicted worsen depressive symptoms after stoke onset. These results suggest that healthcare workers, families, and co-workers should prioritize mental health support and early detection of depressive symptoms, treatment, and coping strategies among working-age individuals who have experienced a stroke.