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Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology
2026. Vol. 15, no. 1, 127–135
doi:10.17759/jmfp.2026150111
ISSN: 2304-4977 (online)

Burnout as a clinical psychological phenomenon

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. The article provides an overview of current foreign research on burnout from the perspective of clinical psychology. Burnout, a widespread condition associated with workplace stressors in many countries, not only has negative socio-economic consequences, but also presents a range of challenges at various levels of human functioning, including physical and mental health. Objective. To explore various definitions and descriptions of burnout, as well as the main diagnostic criteria for this condition. To analyze the mental disorders and somatic symptoms associated with burnout described in modern studies. To describe the main approaches to the differential diagnosis of burnout and other mental disorders, as well as to analyze the study of biological markers of burnout. Results. The main ways of further research of burnout from the perspective of a biopsychosocial model are outlined. The need for a systematic study of burnout, the establishment of its boundaries from other conditions and the identification of biomarkers for the development of diagnostic criteria is noted.

General Information

Keywords: burnout, diagnostic criteria, mental disorders, somatic disorders, differential diagnosis, and biological markers

Journal rubric: Medical Psychology

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2026150111

Received 31.10.2025

Revised 31.10.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Karpova, E.B., Stupnikov, A.S. (2026). Burnout as a clinical psychological phenomenon. Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 15(1), 127–135. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2026150111

© Karpova E.B., Stupnikov A.S., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Elvira B. Karpova, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Associate Professor, Department of Psychology of Crisis and Extreme Situations, Faculty of Psychology, Saint-Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1603-9132, e-mail: e.karpova@spbu.ru

Andrey S. Stupnikov, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology of Crisis and Extreme Situations, Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2987-7687, e-mail: andrei1996991@gmail.com

Contribution of the authors

Аuthors contributed equally to the research, data analysis, and preparation of this manuscript.
Аuthors participated in the discussion of the results and agreed on the final text of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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