Objective: A previous study identified categorically differing scores on the Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM) between individuals with self-identified burnout with (n = 354) or without (n = 188) a history of mental illness. The current study examined whether the SBM's validity held in both scenarios.
Method: The factorial structure and scores on the SBM measure were compared between the two groups.
Results: Similar underlying symptom constructs were identified. The group with a mental illness history had higher general factor scores, suggesting more severe burnout. The group without such a history (and thus a 'purer' burnout state) had higher scores on the empathy loss factor, suggesting its greater specificity to burnout than to other psychological states.
Conclusions: Burnout appears to be experienced similarly by those with and without a mental illness history as measured by the SBM.
Keywords: burnout; depression; mixture modelling; psychiatric history.