INTRODUCTION: Burnout syndrome is a state of mental and physical exhaustion, which occurs in the process of being engaged in a long, exploiting activity. It occurs among 5% of overall population and it is often regarded as a condition affecting professional life. However, literature presents data that burnout syndrome characteristics have been recorded among 25% of medical students and up to 75% of post-gradual residents. Therefore it is argued by many that burnout syndrome originates as early as during medical studies and continues to grow throughout the later medical career. Those changes have negative outcomes on a professional performance. This article presents data how burnout syndrome is progressing through one year in a homogenous group of medical students.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Same group of medical students were tested twice with Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in 2014 and again in 2015, i.e. during the fourth and the fifth year of 6-year course.

RESULTS: Students’ burnout significantly increased after one year, from 27% up to 31% in a group achieving ≥ 27 points in the emotional exhaustion subscale of MBI. Balancing that effect, an upward trend in students’ satisfaction from scholar achievements was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Burnout syndrome is a condition growing proportionally to the length of studying. Although it increases fast over the studying years, the most dramatic effects of burnout are spotted much later, in a professional life. The main conclusion is to start prophylaxis as early as possible, i.e. when students are still in the medical university.