Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Impostor syndrome, increasingly highlighted in media and lay literature as a significant behavioral health issue that hampers professional performance and fuels burnout, lacks a comprehensive evidence-based review to guide its diagnosis and treatment, prompting this study to assess its prevalence, predictors, comorbidities, and management options. Drawing from Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO (January 1966 to May 2018) and article bibliographies, this review included 62 English-language studies involving 14,161 participants—half published within the last six years—that evaluated these aspects of impostor syndrome. Two independent investigators extracted data on study design, participant demographics, professional contexts, diagnostic tools, and outcomes like workplace performance and comorbid condition reduction, alongside quality metrics such as response rates and ethical approvals. Findings revealed impostor syndrome prevalence ranging from 9% to 82%, influenced by diverse screening tools and cutoffs, with notably higher rates among ethnic minorities, affecting both genders and spanning adolescents to late-career professionals. Frequently co-occurring with depression and anxiety, impostor syndrome correlated with reduced job performance, satisfaction, and increased burnout across various professions, including clinicians, though no studies explored treatment efficacy. Despite heterogeneity and potential publication bias, these results underscore the need for clinicians and employers to recognize impostor syndrome’s prevalence and comorbidities, while future research should prioritize treatment evaluation.