[Burnout: disease, symptom or social construct?]

Over the past decades, public and professional attention for burnout has grown significantly. Despite widespread use, burnout lacks a uniform scientific and medical definition. The Netherlands is currently one of the few countries where burnout is recognized as a formal diagnosis by occupational health care providers and general practitioners. In psychiatry, however, the term is rarely used, although symptoms can be severe and disabling.

To critically assess whether burnout is best understood as a disease, a symptom, or a social construct. I explores its scientific foundations, diagnostic challenges, overlap with psychiatric conditions, and societal and healthcare context.

A narrative analysis of the historical and societal evolution of the term burnout, the overlap with conditions like depression and anxiety, and current diagnostic and treatment practices in the Netherlands. Burnout is also discussed within the broader framework of stress dysregulation.

Burnout shows considerable conceptual and clinical overlap with depression, anxiety, and other stress-related conditions. Diagnostic criteria are inconsistent and lack scientific validation. The growing unregulated market of burnout interventions reflects the absence of a clear medical classification and increases the risk of under- or overtreatment. Burnout may better be seen as a spectrum of overload (from mild stress-related symptoms to severe dysregulation with overlap with depression) than a distinct medical condition.

Burnout is a serious and disabling condition but scientifically remains vague and poorly defined. A nuanced approach is needed that focuses on stress dysregulation and considers both medical and social aspects. Renewed interdisciplinary scientific efforts are essential to better understand burnout and ensure appropriate care.