How does the World Health Organization define burnout?

• A. A symptom of general medical illness
• B. A personal psychological disorder
• C. A condition specific to the occupational setting
• D. A temporary response to stress

Answer: (C)

Burnout, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a syndrome that arises from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed, and it is tied specifically to the occupational setting. It is described by three dimensions: energy depletion or exhaustion, mental distance from work or a negative/cynical attitude toward work, and reduced professional efficacy. This framing makes it clear that burnout is about work-related stress rather than a general medical illness, a personal psychiatric disorder, or a transient reaction to stress. The reason the best answer emphasizes the occupational setting is that WHO classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon in ICD-11, not as a general medical condition.