FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION AND BURNOUT SYNDROME IN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN EMERGENCY CARE UNITS

Abstract

Objective: To synthesize current scientific knowledge on factors associated with depression and burnout syndrome in healthcare professionals working in Emergency Care Units (ECUs). Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and BVS databases, covering the period from 2019 to 2026. Twenty-nine articles with active DOIs in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were selected using controlled descriptors combined with Boolean operators. Results: A high prevalence of emotional exhaustion and depression was observed, associated with weekly working hours exceeding 60 hours, precarious employment contracts, and social isolation. Women and professionals at the beginning of their careers were more vulnerable. Depersonalization correlated with an increase in care errors, while social support and participatory leadership acted as protective factors. Discussion: The emergency environment acts as a trigger for psychological vulnerabilities, aggravated by compassion fatigue and ethical-political suffering in the face of resource scarcity. Individual measures are insufficient without structural reforms in clinical governance and a reduction in the stigma surrounding mental health. Conclusion: Mental illness in emergency care units is a systemic challenge that requires a transition from a "culture of heroism" to organizational resilience policies, ensuring workforce sustainability and patient safety.