The burnout syndrome is a process rather than a state. As you may see under the topic “Symptoms”, it is a process that takes time to develop and goes through various phases. Depending on which phase the person is, various approaches can be recommended. In case of suspicion of the beginning of a burnout syndrome process, it is encouraged to consider counseling and initiate a screening process. We advise you to consult an occupational practitioner.

What is the difference between a medical doctor and psychologist?

A medical doctor, the general practitioner or any other specialized doctor, has the right to support the patient with the help of chemical instruments such as prescription drugs. These include antidepressants, which are often administered in case of acute burnout to help the person recover from symptoms that can be close to a depression. In addition, a medical doctor is entitled to sign a document certifying the work-incapacity of the patient.
The psychologist, contrary to general practitioners, has an in-depth training in human behavior, as do psychiatrists. Often their field of specialization can be related to occupational psychology and can understand processes that pertain to the burnout process. However, the psychologist does not have the legal ability to provide a medical certificate for both a sick-leave nor for any prescription drugs. In addition it is worth noting that there can be issues related to health insurance. A person’s health insurance might not include psychological therapy.

What to do?

Swiss Burnout advises you to consult your family physician or your occupational physician if the company you work for is large enough to have such a service. It is important to take this seriously as the earlier such a process is detected, the faster proper measures can be taken and lesser is the risk of “burning-out”. This will make your treatment easier and reinsertion into work hopefully easier too. We advise you to take the self-test, print out the results page and take it with you as a base for discussion with your family doctor / psychotherapist or occupational physician.