Nosology of burnout: between the political, economic, normative, technical, and clinical aspects: a Latin American interpretation

Burnout is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between individuals and their working conditions; it cannot be reduced to an individual stress response. From a Latin American perspective, I propose a nosological framework that articulates political, economic, normative, technical, and clinical dimensions, recognizing burnout as a historically and socio-culturally situated condition. This perspective conceptualizes burnout as a dialectical and dynamic process of transformation. It is not merely a reactive state, but also a mediating mechanism shaped by the interplay between subjects and the structural conditions of work organizational forms, institutional policies, and broader socio-political contexts particularly under conditions of chronic tension or pressure. Within this framework, engagement is not understood as the opposite of burnout. Rather, both are seen as interrelated components of the same process, coexisting within a broader dynamic of energy mobilization associated with efficiency, productivity, overcommitment, and the internalization of performance demands. This transfer of energy manifested in the drive to do more, to commit further, and to exceed expectations can, paradoxically, contribute to the emergence of burnout. The most extreme manifestation of this condition is karoshi, a term that denotes death or suicide resulting from overwork. From this standpoint, it is imperative to denaturalize labor precariousness and promote analytical frameworks that foreground health, well-being, and quality of life as central pillars in the organization of work. Consequently, this proposal advocates for a shift in perspective: from the individual to the collective, from symptomatology to structural determinants. The objective is to foster healthier intersubjective dynamics in the workplace and to advance toward a more dignified, humane, and sustainable vision of labor.