“Burnout” recognised as a medical condition by the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added “burnout” to its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the condition being globally recognised as a disease from 2020.

This is the first time burnout has been recognised in WHO’s handbook for medical conditions.

The development comes a year after global health experts recommended burnout be added to the catalogue. WHO defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by three dimensions including feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.” 

WHO added: “Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.” 

The decision was made during the World Health Assembly in Geneva.