Fashion diagnostics Depression is not the same as burnout

Stress, burnout and depression: fashion diagnoses: do not confuse depression with burnout

06/07/2013

Burnout! Many stress-stricken people end up in the results, overloading them with psycho-tests in magazines or on the internet. Some patients who tell their therapist that they are suffering from burnout can also be the cause of depression.

Burnout sounds better than depression
Whether the diagnosis burnout is really always right for many stress-plagued people, experts doubt. The psychiatrist and psychotherapist Hans Joachim Thimm warns against a mixture of manifestations of stress, depression and burnout. Patients would rather tell their therapist that they have burnout than depression. „This sounds better, but it does mean that patients are not always treated properly, "said Thimm on the sidelines of the conference „Fashion Diagnostics in Psychiatry "on Friday in Hemer, Sauerland The conference dealt with various topics, including the addictiveness of online games and cybersex.

Burnout can develop into depression
Burnout, stress and depression are different manifestations. However, according to Thimm, burnout can definitely develop into a depression. In depression, it comes to absolute hopelessness, exhaustion or indifference. „Since you can not even joke a joke in the presence of those affected, "said the head physician at the General Psychiatry of the Dortmund clinic of the Regional Association Westphalia -Lippe, Thimm. Such a diagnosis wanted to admit some patients.

Not always clearly diagnosable
According to estimates of the health insurance companies, a quarter to a third of Germans claim to be burned out, feeling burned out. Whether there is actually a burnout behind it in any case is not always clearly diagnosable because the symptoms are very diffuse. Gregor Peikert, psychotherapist from the University Hospital Jena, explained last year that the term „burnout“ from the field of industrial psychology and under which the consequences of an excessive burden of the job are to be understood.

Also a problem of the operation
Thimm said: „Burnout is often a result of a gratification crisis in the job. It's not all about money. It's about recognition and a secure job. Exhaustion and reward must balance each other out.“ He divides the parties into three groups: one is an excessive level of entitlement and a high tendency to exhaustion. Others decide to accept an unfair employment relationship, at least temporarily. And the people of the third group depend on the job and prefer to work on unfair terms rather than not at all. All have in common that they are plagued by inner restlessness, irritability, nervousness, aggressiveness and inner tension, as well as tired, tired and beaten off. „Burnout is not just an individual problem, but always a problem of operation. "

„I'm empty“
According to the diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization, the syndrome can not even be coded as the main diagnosis. The additional diagnosis „Problems related to coping with life difficulties "must be registered in order to mark depression, whereas those who exhibit stress symptoms are subject to high levels of stimulation, the body reacts to it, and people are tormented by inner restlessness, emptiness, and fear of failure. „I'm empty“, be a typical sentence of those affected.

Different stress factors
Stress can be caused by very different factors, including heat, noise, conflict or isolation. The body responds to this with the permanent release of hormones that could no longer be completely eliminated. Possible consequences include cardiovascular problems, metabolic disorders, sexual disorders or stomach ulcers. (Ad)