Understanding Burnout Diagnosis

Burnout has gained popularity as a topic, but diagnosing it remains challenging due to the lack of official criteria [1],[2]. Currently, a burnout diagnosis is based on scoring high in two or three of the burnout subscales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment [2]. Some researchers argue that personal accomplishment is a result of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, so not all burnout questionnaires include it for diagnostic purposes.
One challenge with a burnout diagnosis is its overlap with symptoms of major depressive disorder. Interestingly, while most people with burnout also develop depression, not all individuals with depression experience burnout [5]. This overlap complicates efforts to define burnout and pinpoint its symptoms. However, experts agree that burnout is distinct from depression and requires significant time for recovery.
This page explores how professionals can approach a burnout diagnosis by examining the three burnout subscales and understanding the causes and symptoms of burnout.

 

🔊 Listen to this section

Go to:

 

At Barends Psychology Practice, we offer effective treatment for burnout. Contact us to schedule your first, free session. .

 
 

Burnout diagnosis – Emotional exhaustion

We all go through periods of fatigue when work feels overwhelming, but for most people, rest and relaxation—like a weekend or a vacation—are enough to recover. However, for some, recharging takes much longer, and they may be experiencing emotional exhaustion, a key indicator for a burnout diagnosis.
 

What Is Emotional Exhaustion?

 
Emotional exhaustion is marked by:
• Physical fatigue, loss of energy, and feelings of depletion [2],[4].
• A sense of being emotionally and psychologically drained [3].

Common Signs of Emotional Exhaustion:

Individuals experiencing emotional exhaustion often report:
• Feeling tired before arriving at work.
• Taking longer to relax after work than before burnout.
• Feeling emotionally drained and worn out after work.
• Lacking energy for both work and leisure activities.
• Feeling sickened by work-related tasks.
• Struggling to manage daily work and home responsibilities.
• Procrastinating on major tasks, like home repairs.
• Forgetting or mixing up appointments.
• Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or skin problems.
• Having sleep issues, such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up.
 
(Advertisement. For more information on burnout diagnosis, continue reading.)

 

Diagnostic criteria

For a burnout diagnosis, it’s essential to identify with most of these symptoms, and they must have been present for at least three months. However, emotional exhaustion alone isn’t enough. Symptoms of depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment are equally important for a proper diagnosis.
 
 

Burnout diagnosis – Depersonalisation

Emotional exhaustion often leads to depersonalization, a state characterized by:
• Irritability, loss of idealism, and withdrawal [2],[4].
• Negative, inappropriate, or insensitive behaviors toward clients and work [2],[3],[4].

Individuals scoring high on the depersonalization subscale tend to approach their work with negativity and detachment. They may:
• Perform tasks mechanically, seeing clients as objects.
• Feel disgusted by or devalue their work.

Common Signs of Depersonalization

Those experiencing depersonalization often report:
• Struggling to find interesting or new aspects in their work.
• Speaking negatively about their work.
• Becoming easily irritated by small problems or coworkers.
• Completing tasks almost automatically, with minimal thought.
• Viewing work as unchallenging or disengaging.
• Feeling disconnected and emotionally distant from work.
• Struggling to feel empathy for clients.
• Feeling they give more to clients than they receive in return.

Depersonalization can extend beyond the workplace, affecting personal life. These individuals may:
• Be less affectionate with their partner.
• Engage less with their children.
• Show reduced emotion and empathy in relationships.
 
 

Reduced Personal Accomplishment

The third burnout subscale, personal accomplishment, involves:
• Feelings of ineffectiveness, incompetence, and low morale [2],[4].
• Negative self-evaluations and reduced productivity or capability [3].

Common Signs of Reduced Personal Accomplishment
Individuals with reduced personal accomplishment often report:
• Feeling they cannot perform any other job than their current one.
• Feeling unappreciated or used at work.
• A sense of declining competence in their role.
• Struggling to cope with their workload.
• Needing more time and effort to achieve less than they did before.

Diagnostic Criteria for Burnout

A burnout diagnosis may be made if these symptoms persist for three months or longer, and no improvement is expected in terms of workload, job control, or social support. It’s also essential to rule out drug abuse or the side effects of prescription medications. Symptoms must significantly impair personal or professional functioning.

 (Advertisement. For more burn-out diagnosis information, continue reading).

 
 
Go to:

 
 

Literature

• [1] Kaschka, W. P., Korczak, D., & Broich, K. (2011). Burnout: a fashionable diagnosis. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 108, 781.
• [2] Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied psychology, 86, 499.
• [3] Wright, T. A., & Cropanzano, R. (1998). Emotional exhaustion as a predictor of job performance and voluntary turnover. Journal of applied psychology, 83, 486.
• [4] Bakker, A., Schaufeli, W. B., & Van Dierendonck, D. (2000). Burnout: Prevalentie, risicogroepen en risicofactoren. Psychische vermoeidheid en werk, 65-82.
• [5] Ahola, K., Honkonen, T., Isometsä, E., Kalimo, R., Nykyri, E., Aromaa, A., & Lönnqvist, J. (2005). The relationship between job-related burnout and depressive disorders—results from the Finnish Health 2000 Study. Journal of affective disorders, 88, 55-62.