Sources and method – Burnout & Exhaustion
Why the distinction between "burnout" (Z73.0) and a separate diagnosis takes up so much space
"Burnout" is not a separate medical diagnosis in German health and social law, but is listed in the ICD-10-GM under the code Z73.0 "burn-out" as a so-called Z-code – a factor influencing health status which on its own usually supports neither incapacity for work nor benefit entitlements such as psychotherapy, rehab or a reduced earning capacity pension. In practice, a separate diagnosis is therefore regularly made for exhaustion requiring treatment, most often a depressive episode (F32) or an adjustment disorder (F43.2). This distinction runs through several topic pages of this module and is explained in detail on the first page ("What is burnout?") so that it does not have to be repeated on every further page.
Sources
- Gesetze im Internet (gesetze-im-internet.de), Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Office of Justice, retrieved September 2026: consolidated versions of EFZG (§§ 3, 5), SGB V (§§ 20, 24, 40, 41, 44, 46, 47, 48, 74, 92), SGB VI (§§ 9, 15, 43, 50, 102, 116), SGB IX (§§ 8, 44, 167), ArbSchG (§§ 3, 5, 6, 25), ArbZG (§§ 3, 5), BetrVG (§ 87), SGG (§ 84), StGB (§ 203). Basis for all sections cited in the text.
- ICD-10-GM 2026, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Chapter XXI (Z73.0) and Chapter V (F32, F43). Basis for classifying "burnout" as a Z-code.
- WHO, ICD-11 (icd.who.int), code QD85 "Burn-out". Basis for the note on the international classification as an "occupational phenomenon".
- Psychotherapy Guideline of the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss), as of 2026 (g-ba.de). Basis for the process and access to outpatient psychotherapy.
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (German Pension Insurance), basic and legal documentation (GRA) on SGB VI and SGB IX (rvrecht.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de), retrieved September 2026. Basis for rehab and pension law.
- GKV-Spitzenverband, procedure description eAU (electronic sick note) and prevention guide under § 20 SGB V, as of 2026 (gkv-spitzenverband.de).
- Bundesarbeitsgericht (Federal Labour Court), case law on recurring illness (§ 3 EFZG) and on workplace integration management (§ 167 SGB IX), including judgment 5 AZR 505/18 (bundesarbeitsgericht.de).
- Müttergenesungswerk, legal bases on §§ 24, 41 SGB V (muettergenesungswerk.de), retrieved September 2026.
Where information is explicitly marked as uncertain
For some items, no direct official primary source with an exact value could be found or conclusively cross-checked during research. This applies in particular to:
- The exact timetable for a complete changeover from ICD-10-GM to ICD-11 in German social insurance and billing practice (see topic page "What is burnout?").
- Reliable, current nationwide waiting times for an outpatient psychotherapy place (see topic page "Psychotherapy and outpatient treatment").
- A flat nationwide guideline for the typical duration of medical rehab for exhaustion – the duration is set in each individual case by the funding body on the basis of the medical recommendation (see topic page "Medical rehab for exhaustion").
- Reliable, cross-regional waiting times for a place in a mother-child or father-child cure (see the topic page of the same name).
- The exact amount of health insurance subsidies for prevention courses under § 20 SGB V – this varies by insurer and is not regulated uniformly nationwide (see topic page "Self-help and stress management").
- Whether and to what extent individual employers offer an employee assistance programme (EAP) or comparable staff counselling – this depends on the company and is not required by law.
- Whether an employee has an enforceable legal claim against the employer to carry out a gradual return to work – this is discussed in employment law literature and has already been the subject of individual labour court proceedings, but has not been conclusively clarified by the highest courts (see topic page "Gradual return to work").
- A uniform nationwide overview of advice centres for relatives – the offer is organised differently by region and by provider (see topic page "Relatives and social circle").
In all these cases the topic page in question states the uncertainty explicitly instead of presenting a figure or assessment as established fact.
What this platform does – and what it does not
- Figures, deadlines, amounts and legal bases come from the sources named. Nothing was added that is not documented there. Where a figure could not be reliably verified, this is stated on the page in question instead of guessed.
- This module covers burnout and work-related exhaustion with a focus on sick leave, income protection, return to work, rehab and prevention. For the actual treatment of a depressive episode or other mental illnesses in detail (finding a therapy place, medication, hospital stays, severe disability), several pages deliberately refer to the more detailed Depression module, so as not to maintain content twice and possibly inconsistently. For general employment law not specific to burnout (protection against dismissal, leave, pay), the pages refer accordingly to the Employees module.
- The central medical-legal classification – that "burnout"/Z73.0 is not a separate diagnosis and benefit entitlements are tied to a separate illness – was checked against several independent sources and deliberately runs through several topic pages so that it is present at each relevant point.
- Social and employment law is in flux; courts are still conclusively clarifying some questions (e.g. on the enforceable claim to a gradual return to work). The information does not replace medical, psychotherapeutic or legal advice in an individual case.
- Deadlines are often short and run from delivery or from the start of incapacity for work. If in doubt, contact an advice centre, your health insurer, the German Pension Insurance or a lawyer immediately – see Advice and contact points.