Study: Blood, spit samples can reveal burnout symptoms

By Staff Writer

A new study concludes that simple blood and saliva tests can show if an individual is overworked and stressed.

According to the report, which appears in the journal Pschyneuroendocrinology, people who are on the brink of burnout typically have low levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can be measured in blood and spit samples. The researchers stated that cortisol levels are generally higher in patients who have depression and low in people who experience chronic stress.

The study's authors said that this data is important because many doctors prescribe anti-depressant medications to patients who are feeling burnt out by classes or work. These medications could drop hormone levels even lower than they are, which may worsen the symptoms.

Researchers hope that this study will pave the way to more efficient treatments for stressed individuals. According to the International Labor Organization, at least 10 percent of workers in North America and Europe suffer from severe burnout, depression or anxiety symptoms.

Adolescents who experience chronic stress may benefit from wilderness therapy programs, many of which provide help for troubled teens.