Table 1 The criteria for exhaustion disorder as proposed by Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW,2003)

A.

Physical and mental symptoms of exhaustion with a duration of at least 2 weeks. The symptoms have developed in response to one or more identifiable stressors, which have been present for at least 6 months.

B.

Markedly reduced mental energy is a predominant feature, as manifested by reduced initiative, lack of stamina or increase in time needed for recovery after mental efforts.

C.

At least four of the following symptoms have been present nearly every day, during the same 2-week period:

 1.

Concentration difficulties or impaired memory

 2.

Markedly reduced capacity to deal with demands or to work under time pressure

 3.

Emotional instability or irritability

 4.

Sleep disturbances

 5.

Marked physical weakness or fatigability

 6.

Physical symptoms such as muscular pain, chest pain, palpitations, gastrointestinal problems, vertigo or hypersensitivity to sounds

D.

The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas.

E.

The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of any substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a physical illness/injury (e.g., hypothyroidism, diabetes, infectious disease).

F.

If the criteria for major depression, dysthymia or generalized anxiety disorder are met simultaneously, exhaustion disorder is set only as an additional specification to any such diagnosis.