Burnout symptoms and cycles of burnout: The comparison with psychiatric disorders and aspects of approaches

Abstract

Burnout is a syndrome caused by chronic stress, mostly at work. The syndrome consists of three components: emotional exhaustion (a state of losing mental and psychological resources that causes depletion of mental energy), cynicism or depersonalization (a negative attitude toward relationships in a workplace), and diminished professional competence (feeling of reduced sense of personal accomplishment or by a negative view of self-efficacy). Individuals with burnout may present with either or all of the physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and motivational symptoms. Burnout shares some symptoms with chronic stress, depression, neurasthenia, or adjustment disorder. Nevertheless, the core emotional and cognitive symptoms are different.