Volume 23, Issue 1 (2026)
ioh 2026, 23(1): 73-90 |
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Shamsikhani S, fallah S, Hadavand A, hosseini M. Silent Pressure in Psychiatric Settings: A Systematic Review of Burnout among Nurses in Iran. ioh 2026; 23 (1) :73-90
URL: http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-3777-en.html
URL: http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-3777-en.html
Department of Nursing, Shazand School of Nursing, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran , smahsahosseini99@gmail.com
Abstract: (40 Views)
Background and aims:
In psychiatric settings, where nurses frequently encounter stressful events and, at times, patient aggression, the risk of burnout is higher than in other clinical departments. However, to date, no comprehensive review has been conducted on the status of this phenomenon in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the prevalence of burnout among nurses working in psychiatric wards in Iran.
Methods:
This study is a systematic review. A comprehensive search was conducted in national databases (SID, Irandoc, Elmnet, Magiran) and international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) up to the year 2024, with no time limitation but restricted to studies conducted in Iran. Inclusion criteria consisted of full-text articles, written in either Persian or English, with a focus on psychiatric nurses. Screening was performed independently by two researchers in two stages, and data extraction was carried out using a standardized form. The results were analyzed through qualitative synthesis and thematic categorization.
Results:
Out of a total of 2,131 participants, 876 were psychiatric nurses. Most of the included studies employed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess burnout; however, the scoring methods and interpretation of the results varied across studies. The analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity in the reported levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and Reduced personal accomplishment among psychiatric nurses in Iran. While some studies reported low to moderate levels of these dimensions, others indicated high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Regarding personal accomplishment, some studies reported a significant decline in this domain, whereas others found it to be at moderate or even high levels. This variability may stem from differences in measurement tools, scoring approaches, or organizational and geographical contexts.
Conclusion:
Psychiatric nurses in Iran are exposed to high levels of burnout, which adversely affects both the quality of care and their mental well-being. This highlights the urgent need for managerial attention to improving working conditions, enhancing organizational support, and providing training in coping strategies.
In psychiatric settings, where nurses frequently encounter stressful events and, at times, patient aggression, the risk of burnout is higher than in other clinical departments. However, to date, no comprehensive review has been conducted on the status of this phenomenon in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the prevalence of burnout among nurses working in psychiatric wards in Iran.
Methods:
This study is a systematic review. A comprehensive search was conducted in national databases (SID, Irandoc, Elmnet, Magiran) and international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) up to the year 2024, with no time limitation but restricted to studies conducted in Iran. Inclusion criteria consisted of full-text articles, written in either Persian or English, with a focus on psychiatric nurses. Screening was performed independently by two researchers in two stages, and data extraction was carried out using a standardized form. The results were analyzed through qualitative synthesis and thematic categorization.
Results:
Out of a total of 2,131 participants, 876 were psychiatric nurses. Most of the included studies employed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess burnout; however, the scoring methods and interpretation of the results varied across studies. The analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity in the reported levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and Reduced personal accomplishment among psychiatric nurses in Iran. While some studies reported low to moderate levels of these dimensions, others indicated high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Regarding personal accomplishment, some studies reported a significant decline in this domain, whereas others found it to be at moderate or even high levels. This variability may stem from differences in measurement tools, scoring approaches, or organizational and geographical contexts.
Conclusion:
Psychiatric nurses in Iran are exposed to high levels of burnout, which adversely affects both the quality of care and their mental well-being. This highlights the urgent need for managerial attention to improving working conditions, enhancing organizational support, and providing training in coping strategies.
Keywords: burnout, Nursing, Psychiatry, Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalization, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Reduced personal accomplishment
Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
Job Exhaustion
Received: 2025/08/14 | Accepted: 2025/12/24 | Published: 2026/03/30
Received: 2025/08/14 | Accepted: 2025/12/24 | Published: 2026/03/30
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