Burnout syndrome causes high disease burden and jeopardizes treatment success in atopic dermatitis

Background/Aims: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL) and may lead to mental comorbidity. We aimed to investigate the impact of burnout syndrome on disease burden in AD patients. Methods: The sample population was 118 AD inpatients receiving a rehabilitation treatment program. AD severity was assessed with the SCORAD and by self-assessment. Symptoms of mental distress and quality of life were measured with validated questionnaires. Results: A considerable proportion of AD patients reported high burnout scores. Linear regression analyses revealed that burnout syndrome, chronic stress, depression and perceived severity of AD had independent negative effects on QoL. Patients who achieved a SCORAD reduction of < 50% at discharge reported greater emotional exhaustion at admission than patients who achieved higher SCORAD reduction. Conclusion: Burnout syndrome significantly influences QoL in patients with AD and may jeopardize treatment success. Account should be taken of mental comorbidity in the management of AD.