Professional burnout—cynicism and a loss of enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment at work—has been shown to be common among both physicians and nurses. This cross-sectional survey of more than 7000 physicians found that burnout among physicians is more common than in the general population, with emergency physicians and primary care physicians the most commonly afflicted. Burnout has been shown to be one of several emotional influences on patient safety; it has also been linked to medical errors and disruptive behavior.