Great question! First, I’m sorry you're facing these challenges. Understanding how you feel is the crucial first step toward positive change. Let's explore and help you distinguish between these states, so you can get back to enjoying life, whether at baseline or Ted Lasso-level joy.

Burnout and depression are very closely related. So closely related, in fact, that many research studies are designed specifically to discern the difference. The scientific community is still debating whether they are distinct concepts or if burnout is simply a dimension of depression. To learn more, we turn to a helpful paper: The Relationship Between Burnout,Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Koutsimani et al.,2019). At Catalyst Psychology, we love meta-analyses because they provide patterns and findings across many studies over many years. This particular paper highlights the definitions of each state. Here are the key factors:

Burnout:

Characterized by:

1. Emotional exhaustion

2. Feelings of cynicism

3. Reduced personal accomplishment

Distinguishing factors:

- Primarily work-related, with significant detrimental effects on work performance and engagement.

- Chronic work stress is highly associated with burnout.

Psychiatric diagnosis:

- Burnout is not currently recognized as an official psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM-5. However, it is a well-researched problem with known biological and psychological impacts. We also have excellent evidence-backed tools for reducing burnout.

Depression:

Characterized by:

1. Anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure)

2. Low mood

3. Fatigue or loss of energy

4. Impaired concentration

5. Feelings of worthlessness

6. Decreased or increased appetite

7. Sleep problems

8. Suicidal ideation

Distinguishing factors:

- Clients often report that various aspects of life, both work-related and outside of work, have lost meaning and joy.

- While chronic stress is associated with depression, the stressor is not necessarily work-related. Some individuals may experience depression without a clear trigger. 

Psychiatric diagnosis:

- Depression is an official psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM-5, with several variants and specifiers.

The authors of this meta-analysis report that 59% of individuals experiencing burnout are also diagnosed with depression or a depressive episode. This indicates a strong association between the two states, but the study authors point out that the effect size is not strong enough to consider them identical.

Months or years in a stressful work environment can put you at risk for both burnout and depression. They are not mutually exclusive and may even share common biological mechanisms, including HPA axis (major bodily system that regulates stress response) dysregulation after long periods of chronic stress. While it is possible to experience one, the other, or both, it is important to work with someone trained in distinguishing them to outline a plan for change.

 At Catalyst Psychology, our research-based approach to treatment recognizes that chronic stress has physiological and psychological effects, contributing to problems such as burnout, depression, insomnia, increased anxiety, and even increased pain sensitivity. If you are experiencing symptoms like these and are ready for a change, schedule a time to talk with us.