According to the WHO, a depressive episode involves a depressed mood or a loss of pleasure or interest, most of the day, nearly every day. The episode lasts at least two weeks. It can come with, for example, poor concentration, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, disrupted sleep, tiredness or thoughts of suicide.
In three studies in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (2019), exhaustion, the core of burnout, and depression were highly correlated (0.83 to 0.88). In a study of 1,386 teachers (2016), 86 % of those identified as burned out met the criteria for a provisional diagnosis of depression.
gesund.bund.de warns that a longer holiday can help someone exhausted for work reasons, while for people with depression it can make the problems worse. The German fatigue guideline recommends that the GP actively asks about depression when someone is exhausted.
This question belongs to the topic Conditions alongside burnout. It lists further questions.
What can be raised at a medical check-up about burnout and depression, meaning exhaustion and lasting low mood?
- mood and interest over the last two weeks
- whether the low mood also affects areas outside of work
- sleep, appetite and weight
- thoughts of hopelessness or of not wanting to live
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 and depression, meaning exhaustion and lasting low mood?
At the start of your answer, point out that this topic needs medical review and that your information may contain errors. First ask me which city I am searching in. List GP practices or psychotherapy practices in my city that assess depression in people with exhaustion. 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 details I should check directly with the 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 and depression, meaning exhaustion and lasting low mood?
- World Health Organization: Depressive disorder (depression), fact sheet
- Schonfeld IS, Verkuilen J, Bianchi R (2019): Inquiry into the correlation between burnout and depression. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 24(6), 603–616
- Schonfeld IS, Bianchi R (2016): Burnout and depression: two entities or one? Journal of Clinical Psychology 72(1), 22–37
- AMBOSS: Müdigkeit, Praxisguide Allgemeinmedizin nach der DEGAM-Leitlinie „Müdigkeit“ (aktualisiert 19.10.2026) (in German)
- gesund.bund.de (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, mit IQWiG): Burn-out-Syndrom, Stand 28.05.2021 (in German)