Table 1 Diagnostic criteria for exhaustion disorder (Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare)

A. Physical and mental symptoms of exhaustion during a minimum of two weeks. The symptoms have developed in response to one or more identifiable stressors which have been present for at least six months.

B. Markedly lack of mental energy, which is manifested by reduced initiative, reduced endurance, or prolonged recovery time after mental strain.

C. At least four of the following symptoms have been present most days during the same two-week period:

 1) Concentration difficulties or memory problems

 2) Markedly reduced ability to manage demands or to perform under time pressure

 3) Emotional instability or irritability

 4) Sleep disturbances

 5) Marked physical weakness or fatigue

 6) Physical symptoms such as pain, chest pain, palpitations, gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, or sensitivity to sound

D. The symptoms cause clinically significant suffering or reduced ability to function at work, socially, or in other important situations.

E. The symptoms are not related to direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. drug abuse, medication) or somatic disease/injury (e.g. hypothyroidism, diabetes, infectious disease).

F. If the criteria for major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder concurrently are fulfilled, exhaustion disorder should be used as a secondary diagnosis.