World Health Organization Lists Burnout as Medical Diagnosis

It’s no secret that stress leads to burnout and burnout leads to even bigger health problems. Each day our always-on world bombards us with stress just about everywhere we turn.

This is why it is no surprise that Burnout is now considered a medical diagnosis.

There was a very important recent change made to the International Classification of Diseases, or the ICD-11, which is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) handbook that guides medical providers in diagnosing diseases.

You will now find that Burnout is included on the list of legitimate medical diagnoses. You can now find burnout in the ICD-11’s section listing issues related to employment or unemployment.

The handbook outlines that doctors can now diagnose someone with burnout if they meet the following criteria:

1. feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion

2. increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job

3. reduced professional efficacy

The handbook also suggests that before making this formal diagnosis, doctors should first rule out adjustment disorder as well as anxiety and mood disorders. And the diagnosis is limited to work environments, and shouldn’t be applied to other life situations.

Researchers and medical professionals studying the impact of stress have long been saying just how dangerous the effects of stress can be on the body. This interesting step taken by the WHO to add Burnout to the ICD-11 is a big step in the right direction.

As more people realize the importance of mitigating their stress, fewer people will experience serious burnout.