Fatigue syndrome will be removed as a diagnosis by 2028, following new guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sweden is currently the only country that has fatigue syndrome, also known as burnout, as a recognized diagnosis. The number of stress-related sick leaves is increasing and every year around 20,000 Swedes are taken ill with the diagnosis.
However, as of 2028, the diagnosis will disappear completely from Sweden, reports Psykologitidningen. The background to the decision is that the World Health Organization (WHO) is updating the international diagnosis system and no longer wants to see national diagnoses. In other words, it is not the National Board of Health and Welfare’s decision, but the new guidelines that form the basis for the removal.
Psychologist Elin Lindsäter, one of Sweden’s leading researchers in the field, basically welcomes the change and believes it can benefit patients, as the diagnosis has been broad and vague and used in different ways around the country. At the same time, she worries that the resulting void could lead to rapid decisions and differences between regions. Lindsäter has been in contact with the Minister for Social Affairs, Jakob Forssmed, where she has pointed out the need for national coordination.
– A government commission to investigate the situation seems to be underway, she told the paper.
“Can only get better”
At the same time, she understands that the change may cause concern among patients, who have already pointed out that it can be difficult to get the right care.
– This change puts the clinical picture on the table and forces us to act and think differently. I assume that things can only get better, but initially there may be legitimate concerns for many, with a risk of falling through the cracks.
Magdalena Fresk, Head of the Classifications and Terminology Unit at the National Board of Health and Welfare, says that the previous diagnosis system was many years old and that this is “a long-awaited, medically updated version”. This year they will be working on the translation for the new WHO guidelines.
– We have a number of issues that we know we will need to work on to ensure that there are no problems for patients and that it works as well as possible in the future, she told the Bonnier newspaper DN.
