Work-related stress in forensic mental health professionals: a systematic review
| Pages | 227-238 |
| Date | 14 August 2017 |
| Published date | 14 August 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-05-2016-0024 |
| Author | Darcy Brown,Artemis Igoumenou,Anna-marie Mortlock,Nitin Gupta,Mrigendra Das |
| 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 |
Work-related stress in forensic mental
health professionals: a systematic review
Darcy Brown, Artemis Igoumenou, Anna-marie Mortlock, Nitin Gupta and Mrigendra Das
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of stress and burnout among forensic
mental health (FMH) professionals.
Design/methodology/approach –A systematic review of the available literature accessed by relevant
databases was conducted.
Findings –This study concluded that FMH suffer from moderate levels of both stress and burnout. There is
insufficient evidence to establish that they suffer from higher levels of stress than their non-forensic
colleagues. Interventions such as psychosocial intervention training have been reported to demonstrate an
improvement in staff knowledge and attitudes towards patients, whilst reducing burnout.
Practical implications –Stress in FMH is a cause of concern. Conclusions drawn are applicable only to
nursing staff as other professions were not adequately represented. As most studies used the burnout
scores, results were directly comparable. Further research is needed to fully evaluate stress and burnout in
professionals who work within FMH settings.
Originality/value –High levels of stress and burnout have negative effects on an individual’s ability to work
and subsequently there is a financial and also moral incentive for the management of health service
workforces to intervene. This study highlights that FMH, as a population, are at risk.
Keywords Stress, Burnout, Staff, Interventions, Forensic, Mental health professionals
Paper type Literature review
Background
Occupational stress is defined as psychological strain due to individual and workplace
stressors (Finney et al., 2013). Burnout is the consequence of chronic occupational stress and
is described as a “state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion”(Pines et al., 1981;
Freudenberger, 1974). It is characterised by feelings of detachment, cynicism, low self-esteem
and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment (Maslach et al., 1996). Tho se working in
an occupation wher e interpersonal re lationships are cr ucial are prone to high er levels of
burnout (Maslach et al., 1996). Nursing and other healthcare professions have been identified
as being particularly at risk (Cacciacarne et al., 1986). The consequences are clear, as
healthcare professionals have higher levels of physical and psychological ill health and greater
sickness absence i n comparison with the rest of the UK working p opulation (Wall et al.,1997;
Williams et al., 1998). A study involving 1,800 nurses found 93 per cent had experienced
varying degrees of work-related stress (Cole, 1992). It has been suggested that 25 per cent of
all nurses suffer from symptoms of burnout (Landau, 1992). In addition, stress has been
identified as one of the major reasons why nurses fail to achieve an optimum level of
effectiveness at work (Kendrick, 2000; Joseph, 1993).
In comparison to healthcare staff in other specialities, mental health professionals are at
particularly high risk of developing stress and burnout; a pattern confirmed in several reviews
(Edwards et al., 2000; Paris and Hoge, 2010; Rössler, 2012). This may be a contributing factor to
the high staff turnover rates within the mental healthcare sector (Ben-Dror, 1994). A recent
literature review (Morse et al., 2012) highlights the significant problem that burnout poses to the
overall mental health workforce and exposes a lack of basic research in this area.
Received 18 May 2016
Revised 28 November 2016
Accepted 30 November 2016
Darcy Brown is based at the
University of Aberdeen Medical
School, Aberdeen, UK.
Artemis Igoumenou is a
Consultant at Barnet Enfield
and Haringey Mental Health
NHS Trust, London, UK.
Anna-marie Mortlock is based
at West London Mental Health
NHS Trust, Broadmoor
Hospital, Crowthorne, UK.
Nitin Gupta is based at
Department of Psychiatry,
Government Medical College,
Chandigarh, India.
Mrigendra Das is a Consultant
Forensic Psychiatrist at West
London Mental Health NHS
Trust, Broadmoor Hospital,
Crowthorne, UK and is based
at Top End Mental Health
Service, Parap, Australia.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-05-2016-0024 VOL. 19 NO. 3 2017, pp. 227-238, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
PAG E 22 7
To continue reading
Request your trial