The WHO places burnout in the chapter “Factors influencing health status or contact with health services”. This chapter covers reasons for contact with health services. These reasons are not classed as illnesses or health conditions.
The German psychiatric society DGPPN described burnout in 2012 as a possible state of risk that can lead to illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, tinnitus or high blood pressure. It also noted that burnout can be an early symptom or a consequence of illnesses.
A systematic review of prospective studies in PLoS One (2017) found that burnout predicted, for example, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, insomnia and depressive symptoms. The complaints behind the word burnout therefore deserve a medical assessment.
This question belongs to the topic Burnout syndrome: definition and causes. It lists further questions.
What can be raised at a medical check-up about burnout as a diagnosis, meaning its medical status?
- the complaints in their own words, beyond the word burnout
- changes in mood, sleep, appetite and weight
- blood pressure, ringing in the ears or frequent infections
- previous illnesses and current medicines
Exhaustion can have many causes, including illnesses that need treatment. For this reason a medical assessment comes before coaching, usually starting at the GP practice.
When can exhaustion become an emergency? · Why see a doctor before coaching for burnout?
Which prompt can be given to an AI assistant about burnout as a diagnosis, meaning its medical status?
At the start of your answer, point out that this topic needs medical review and that your information may contain errors. Explain how the WHO classifies burnout in the ICD-11 and which illnesses are checked medically when burnout complaints occur. Give the source for every piece of information and mark what is uncertain. Do not make a diagnosis and do not recommend any treatment. Separately, tell me which questions I should ask at the doctor’s practice.
With some services, the prompt needs to be pasted after signing in. The AI services belong to third parties. Depending on the service and the extent of use, signing in and costs may apply. AI answers can contain errors.
Which sources support the answer on burnout as a diagnosis, meaning its medical status?
- World Health Organization (2019): Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases
- Salvagioni DAJ et al. (2017): Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: a systematic review of prospective studies. PLoS One 12(10), e0185781
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt (2012): DGPPN-Positionspapier zum Thema Burnout (in German)