Mental exhaustion / burnout (P78)

Mental exhaustion, neurasthenia (‘surmenage’) and burnout are terms that have been used interchangeably throughout the years, with variations in their definition and use. Generally, these terms refer to the inability to cope with chronic psychological stress, mainly at work (but not limited to work) because of insufficient resources to meet (work) demands. The diagnosis is not part of the DSM classification and there are no strict diagnostic criteria. Treatment recommendations are mainly based on practical experience. The 2018 Dutch NHG guideline states that being ‘overworked’ or ‘mentally exhausted’ (in Dutch, ‘Overspanning’) can be diagnosed when four criteria are met. The