Freudenberger (1974) is credited with first applying the term burnout to caregivers. He defined burnout using the dictionary definition:
"to fail, wear out, or become exhausted by making excessive demands on energy, strength or resources.

Yasko (1983) described:
"the burnout syndrome as the state of physical and emotional depletion experienced by health and social service professioanls in response to work related stressors".

Burnout has been noted to have early and late symptoms. According to Cohen(1995:
"the physical effects and stress-related disorders linked to chronic stress and burnout include fatigue, physical and emotional exhaustion, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, weight loss, sleeplessness, depression, boredom, frustration, low morale, job turnouver, and impared performance including decreased empathy and absenteeism.

Gehmeyr(1993) stated:
"the onset is slow. The early symptoms include a feeling or emotional and physical exhaustion, a sense of alienation, cynicism,impatience, negativism and feelings of detatchment to the pint that the individual begins to resent work involoved and the people who are a part of that work. In extreme cased the individual who once cared deeply about a project or a group will insulate himself to the point that he no longer cares at all"