CBI

Copenhagen Burnout Inventory

Anxiety & relatedSelf-reportAges 16+19 questions~4 min

Validated by Kristensen et al. (2005) · View paper

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jaye Turrietta, PsyD, BCBA-D, AEP

A 19-item self-report measure of burnout across three domains.

Questions ask about burnout in your personal life, at work, and with clients. Response options vary between questions.

19 questions · ~4 min · Auto-saved

About the CBI

The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was developed by Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen, and Christensen (2005) as an alternative to the Maslach Burnout Inventory. It separates burnout into three distinct domains: personal (general exhaustion), work-related (fatigue linked to your job), and client-related (exhaustion from working with people). This three-domain structure makes it more useful for identifying where burnout is concentrated.

19 items with two scale types: frequency (Always to Never) and degree (To a very high degree to To a very low degree). Takes about 5–10 minutes.

Scoring

Each response maps to 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 points. Item 11 is reverse-scored. Subscale scores are averaged; the overall score is the average across all items. Severity bands: below 50 = no burnout, 50–74 = moderate, 75–99 = high, 100 = severe.

Burnout & autism

The Personal Exhaustion subscale (questions 1–6) has been found to be a valid preliminary screening tool for autistic burnout. Autistic individuals often experience chronic workplace burnout due to sensory overload, masking demands, and communication barriers that the CBI can help quantify.

Reliability

Overall Cronbach’s α = 0.91. Subscale reliability: Personal α = 0.87, Work α = 0.87, Client α = 0.85.

Important: The CBI measures burnout, not autism. However, burnout and autistic burnout share overlapping symptoms. If you suspect autistic burnout specifically, also consider the ABO measure.

Kristensen, T. S., Borritz, M., Villadsen, E., & Christensen, K. B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress, 19(3), 192–207.

CBI FAQs

The most common questions about the CBI (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory).

What is the CBI?

The CBI (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) is a 19-item question self-report screener for burnout across personal, work, and client domains. A 19-item burnout measure across three domains — personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout. It was developed by Kristensen et al. (2005).

Who can take the CBI?

The CBI is designed for adults age 16 and up to complete themselves.

How long does the CBI take?

Most people complete the CBI in about 4 minutes. You can pause at any time — your answers are saved in your browser, so you can resume on the same device.

Is the CBI diagnostic?

No. The CBI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It is a validated screener that can suggest whether further evaluation is warranted, but only a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can make a formal diagnosis. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations via telehealth — a doctoral-level psychologist conducts a comprehensive evaluation, with reports typically delivered within days.

Is the CBI free to take here?

Yes. The CBI is free to take on this page. We don't require a sign-up, and we don't collect or share your responses — your answers are saved locally in your browser. You can also export your results as a PDF for your own records or to share with a clinician.

What does my CBI score mean?

After you complete the CBI, you'll see your total score broken into the validated severity / likelihood bands published for this instrument, along with a plain-language interpretation. Specific cutoffs vary by tool — for the CBI, the scoring ranges and band descriptions are shown directly on the results page.

What if my CBI score is elevated?

An elevated score on the CBI is one signal — not a diagnosis. The recommended next step is a comprehensive clinical evaluation. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations starting at $950 flat fee with no waitlist; reports are typically delivered within days and include the diagnostic documentation needed for IEPs, ABA prior authorization, and other downstream services.

If your CBI score suggests further evaluation may be warranted, book a comprehensive evaluation with one of our PSYPACT-licensed clinical psychologists. Reports typically delivered within one week.

How the CBI compares to related screeners

Most screeners measure similar constructs but vary in length, target audience, and emphasis. Here's how the CBI relates to the most commonly-paired alternatives.

CBI vs TAS-20

The CBI and the TAS-20 both measure burnout across personal, work, and client domains at a similar length (19 vs 20 questions). They originated from different research groups (2005 and 1994 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the TAS-20 →

CBI vs PAQ

The CBI and the PAQ both measure burnout across personal, work, and client domains at a similar length (19 vs 24 questions). They originated from different research groups (2005 and 2018 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the PAQ →

CBI vs PHQ-9

The CBI and the PHQ-9 both measure burnout across personal, work, and client domains at a similar length (19 vs 9 questions). They originated from different research groups (2005 and 2001 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the PHQ-9 →

Add this free screener to your site

Educators, clinicians, and organizations are welcome to embed the CBI for free. Copy the snippet below. It keeps a small link back to NeuroClarity.