General information for adults. Not medical or psychotherapeutic advice; not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment.
What does depression describe?
Depression is a mental health condition that can involve sustained changes in mood, interest and energy. Assessment considers symptoms and their impact together. [1][2]
What does grief describe?
Grieving the loss of someone close is a natural response. Its course is individual. Some people develop prolonged grief disorder or additional depressive symptoms; grief and depression are therefore not simple opposites. [3]
What does burnout describe?
In ICD-11, WHO describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is not classified there as a separate medical condition. Everyday use of the word is often broader. [4][5]
Why is one symptom not enough?
Exhaustion and reduced functioning appear in descriptions of both burnout and depression. An online questionnaire cannot reliably settle the distinction. Other health explanations may also need consideration. [5]
Why do we avoid a simple self-comparison?
A chart suggesting “work affected means burnout; everything affected means depression” would imply more certainty than this portal can offer. We explain terms and direct personal assessment to qualified professionals.
When can someone ask for support?
You do not need to know the right label before asking for a conversation. Describe what has changed and ask for an assessment. Our professional support guide explains possible starting points.
READ FURTHER & CHECK THE SOURCES
Sources and context
How should I interpret these sources?
Source notes identify the provider, their use in this article and known limitations. The source-comparison date below is not the original publication date. No update date is assumed where none is available. General findings cannot automatically be applied to an individual; independent medical review of this draft is pending.
- IQWiG · InformedHealth.org: Depression ↗
Provider / domain: www.informedhealth.org
Plain-language overview. Used for terminology, symptoms and course.
- German National Clinical Practice Guideline · Chapter 2 ↗
Provider / domain: www.leitlinien.de
German-language clinical guideline. Used for diagnostic assessment and the limitations of questionnaires.
- German federal health portal: Coping with grief (in German) ↗
Provider / domain: gesund.bund.de
German federal health portal: grief and prolonged grief disorder; used for terminology. German-language source. Accessed: 29 October 2026.
- WHO: Burnout as an occupational phenomenon ↗
Provider / domain: www.who.int
WHO explanation of ICD-11 classification: burnout in its occupational context. Primary source. Accessed: 29 October 2026.
- IQWiG: What is burnout? ↗
Provider / domain: www.informedhealth.org
Patient information explaining burnout terminology and its distinction from other conditions. Accessed: 29 October 2026.
Research and source comparison: 29 October 2026. Prepared with AI assistance. Editorial responsibility: Mario V.W.B.R. Obst. Independent medical expert review is pending. Independent medical expert review has not taken place.