Considerable research has been conducted on burnout syndrome in the field of human services. Lately this concept has been applied to the psychological problems of the athlete, and has often been discussed as athletes' burnout. However, some current definitions are vague, or overly inclusive. Staleness and overtraining similar to burnout have been discussed without proper differentiation of these concepts. For application of this concept to the athlete, a certain standard must be defined. Therefore, it is attempted in this paper to consider and clarify burnout syndrome by reviewing previous studies of burnout. The review was looking on three essential factors-a premorbid character, situation and symptoms. The cases which met our criteria for burnout syndrome were compared with other clinical figures. Common characters as melancholic type or immodithymia were recognized as a premorbid character. Further it was assumed that burnout cases would cling tenaciously to objects or situation (e.g. job), and then suffer serious stress which eventually leads to the disease. Next, based upon this review we attempted to present some conceptual framework for the study of athletes' burnout. Staleness can be regarded as one prodrome or symptom of burnout in sports. Overtraining can be regarded as a situational factor in which psychosomatic dissipation or burnout occur rather than as a category of disease. In determining the diagnostic criteria of athletes' burnout, we have to consider not only a consequence such as a decrease in athletic motivation and a drop out from sports but also a premorbid character and situations, especially the clinging to sports in object relationship.