There’s no doubt most people have felt burnt out by work on occasion, and now it's been officially recognized as a medical condition.
The World Health Organization’s latest International Classification of Diseases (the ICD) now includes “burnout syndrome” as a real condition. It's the first time it’s officially been recognized.
“Burnout refers specifically to the occupational context, and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life,” says the WHO.
So, what exactly constitutes “burnout syndrome?” 3 specific characteristics:
- Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion.
- Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job.
- Reduced professional efficacy
So, why is it a good thing that burnout syndrome is being recognized by the ICD? Well, for the past decade the WHO’s list has been used as a reference by physicians, researchers and health insurers.
BTW: burnout syndrome isn’t the only new condition included in the ICD. The WHO “video game addiction” as a mental health disorder. They describe it as “a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior” that “takes precedence over other life interests”
More here: New York Post
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