OBJECTIVE: To investigate levels and predictors of change in dimensions of burnout after an intervention for stressed doctors. DESIGN: Cohort study followed by self reported assessment at one year. SETTING: Norwegian resource centre. PARTICIPANTS: 227 doctors participating in counselling intervention, 2003-5. INTERVENTIONS: Counselling (lasting one day (individual) or one week (group based)) aimed at motivating reflection on and acknowledgement of the doctors' situation and personal needs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of burnout (Maslach burnout inventory) and predictors of reduction in emotional exhaustion investigated by linear regression. RESULTS: 185 doctors (81%, 88 men, 97 women) completed one year follow-up. The mean level of emotional exhaustion (scale 1-5) was significantly reduced from 3.00 (SD 0.94) to 2.53 (SD 0.76) (t=6.76, P