Burnout in clinicians working with offenders with personality disorder
| Published date | 08 May 2017 |
| Date | 08 May 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-01-2016-0004 |
| Pages | 139-150 |
| Author | Robert J. Chandler,Andrew Newman,Catherine Butler |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Burnout in clinicians working with
offenders with personality disorder
Robert J. Chandler, Andrew Newman and Catherine Butler
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the levels of clinician burnout in a community forensic
personality disorder (PD) service, and explores how burnout may arise and be minimised within a service of
this nature.
Design/methodology/approach –A mixed methods approach was utilised, assessing levels of burnout
and making comparisons with a comparable previous study. Focus group data regarding burnout and
suggestions for reducing the risk of burnout were analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings –Levels of burnout were generally found to be higher in the current sample when compared with
the generic PD services. Qualitative data suggest that working in a forensic PD setting may pose a range of
additional and complex challenges; these are explored in detail. Minimising burnout might be achieved by
developing resilience, utilising humour, team coherence and ensuring that breaks are taken, and developing
one’s own strategies for “releasing pressure”.
Practical implications –The risk for burnout in clinicians working with offenders with PD may be higher than
other groups of mental health clinicians. Despite this, attempts to minimise burnout can be made through a
range of practical strategies at the individual, team and organisational level.
Originality/value –This is the first project to assess levels of burnout specifically in a team of clinicians
working with offenders with PD, and offers an exploration of how burnout may manifest and how it can be
managed in this unique area of mental health.
Keywords Stress, Community, Burnout, Offenders, Forensic, Personality disorder
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Mental health professionals have higher levels of burnout compared with other groups who work
with people (e.g. teachers) (Crawford et al., 2010; Fothergill et al., 2004), leading to difficulties
with retaining staff in mental health services (Evans et al., 2006). “Burnout”was first defined by
Maslach as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, lack of personal accomplishment and the
development of cynicism (or “depersonalisation”) that can occur among individuals that do
“people-work”(Maslach and Jackson, 1981). Burnout should be distinguished conceptually
from occupational stress; the latter is considered a transient and temporary phase of increased
work-related stress. In contrast, burnout refers to prolonged occupational stress, where
maladaptive beliefs and attitudes to one’s work develop (Langan-Fox and Cooper, 2011).
Burnout is particularly common amongst those working with clients with personality disorder
(PD) (Perseius et al., 2007). It has been proposed that working with “difficult to treat”clients
(such as those with a PD diagnosis), can foster reduced efficacy, self-esteem and exhaustion
(Allen, 1997). In addition to this, Crawford et al. (2010) notes that working with aggressive or
suicidal clients can be particularly stressful. Indeed, these characteristics are typically present in
individuals with antisocial and borderline PD. Therefore, clinicians working with offenders with PD
may be more susceptible to burnout when compared with other groups.
Delivering a high-quality service is dependent on retaining a skilled workforce (Crawford et al.,2010),
and it is therefore important to minimise the risk burnout in staff working with clients with PD.
Researchhas sought to establishfactors which may be seen as protective against burnout; regular
supervision has been found to be protective against burnout in community mental health nurses
Received 22 January 2016
Revised 7 April 2016
12 June 2016
1 July 2016
Accepted 2 July 2016
Robert J. Chandler is a Clinical
Psychologist at the Department
of Psychology, University of
Bath, Bath, UK.
Andrew Newman is a Clinical
Psychologist at IRiS, Avon and
Wiltshire Mental Health
Partnership NHS Trust,
Bristol, UK.
Catherine Butler is a Clinical
Psychologist at the University
of Bath, Bath, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-01-2016-0004 VOL. 19 NO. 2 2017, pp. 139-150, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
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JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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