Is burnout just a euphemism for depression?

No, but it makes for a tricky diagnosis, says Dr Jan Orman
Dr Jan Orman
Black Dog Institute GP Services Consultant Dr Jan Orman

At the RACGP’s recent conference in Adelaide, Sydney GP Dr Jan Orman opened her presentation with a provocative question: “Isn’t burnout just a euphemism for depression?”

The answer, in the end, was no. But Dr Orman, the Black Dog Institute’s GP Services Consultant, says it’s instructive to consider the overlap between the two, to ensure that patients — including doctors themselves — receive the best treatment.