Some passionate (and perfectionist) women seem headed for a brilliant career then one day, they lose their footing. Their features are drawn, their faces contorted. Mood swings and fits of tears replace their usual enthusiasm and dynamism. Why? They're the victims of an ever-growing work place disorder: burnout.

This disorder surfaced for the first time in the mid-1970s, and though it may be more common these days, it still confuses its victims.

"Burnout" has been described many different ways by many different specialists. However, observations all converge on four fundamental elements. The disease hits people who always functioned well in the work place. Burnout victims usually show signs of exhaustion, anxiety and depression. They become psycho-somatic that is, their psychological discomfort has an impact on their physical health. And there are behaviour changes: at work, these people develop fears, and feel powerless and less motivated than they used to be.

Burnouts target a preferred group: the employees in the service sector, where workers must directly interact with people. Health and social services, education, law, administration, management and human resources are among the fields most affected by burnouts.