Severity of depression and level of work impairment

January 01, 0001

Severity of depression and level of work impairment

Depression carries a large cost, in part due to lost productivity amongst its sufferers. These US researchers wanted to compare the severity of depression to the amount of work impairment. Participantss in the the DIAMOND (Depression Improvement Across Minnesota: Offering a New Direction) initiative who were newly initiated on antidepressants were administered the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item screen (PHQ-9) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire.

The researchers reported: "We analyzed data from the 771 patients who reported being currently employed. General linear models adjusting for demographics and health status showed a significant linear, monotonic relationship between depression symptom severity and productivity loss. With every 1-point increase in PHQ-9 score, patients experienced an additional mean productivity loss of 1.65%. Even minor levels of depression symptoms were associated with decrements in work function. Full-time vs part-time employment status and self-reported fair or poor health vs excellent, very good, or good health were also associated with a loss of productivity"

The researchers concluded: "This study shows a relationship between the severity of depression symptoms and work function, and suggests that even minor levels of depression are associated with a loss of productivity. Employers may find it beneficial to invest in effective treatments for depressed employees across the continuum of depression severity."

Depressive symptoms, even at minor levels, are linearly linked with productivity losses at work.


For the full abstract, click here.

Annals of Family Medicine 9(4):305-311, July 2011 © 2011 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
Severity of Depression and Magnitude of Productivity Loss. Arne Beck, A. Lauren Crain, Leif I. Solberg, et al. Correspondence to Arne Beck, PhD,: [email protected]

Category: P. Psychological. Keywords: depression, severity, productivity, work, impairment, survey, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 26 July 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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