Question: Which of the following condition is recently recognized as a medical condition by WHO?
(a) Dementia
(b) Burn out
(c) Accident
(d) None of the above
Answer: (b)
Related facts:
- World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently recognized Burn Out as a medical condition.
- It is classified in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of WHO which is widely used as a benchmark for diagnosis and health insurers.
- It defines burn-out as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.
- It is placed in the section of employment and unemployment related problems.
- Doctors can however diagnose burnout only when it comes to work and does not apply to other life situations under the present classification.
- The decision over this was made at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, which ended on May 28 2019.
- This step will help put to rest decade old debate over how to define burn-out, and whether it should be considered a medical condition or not.
- Psychologist Herbert Freudenberger is recognized to have started the formal study of burnout with a scientific article published in 1974.
This syndrome was characterised by three dimensions:
- Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion.
- Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job.
- Reduced professional efficacy.
ICD List:
- ICD-11, the updated ICD list was drafted last year following recommendations from health experts around the world and was approved on May 25 2019.
- The updated list will come into effect in January 2022. It contains several other additions, including classification of “compulsive sexual behaviour” as a mental disorder.
- It also recognises video gaming as an addiction and enlisted it alongside gambling and drugs like cocaine.
- The updated list removes transgenderism from its list of mental disorders and added it to the chapter “conditions related to sexual health”.
Links:
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/who-recognises-burn-out-as-medical-condition/article27262939.ece
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/27/health/who-burnout-disease-trnd/index.html
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/-burnout-is-now-an-official-medical-conditions-world-health-organization-says/2032386535