Depressed Employees Vulnerable To Presenteeism And Absenteeism

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Bipolar
Article Date: 02 Sep 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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A new study released today in the American Journal of Psychiatry examines the impact depression has on work productivity. The study, conducted by researchers at Tufts-New England Medical Center, compared depressed employees with two groups: those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is a condition associated with work disability, and depression-free healthy employees. When compared, the depression group was far more vulnerable to job loss, absenteeism (missed work days) and presenteeism (impaired productivity while at work). Furthermore, the researchers noted that even when depressed subjects received treatment and experienced improvement in their clinical symptoms, their work productivity was still impaired.

"In order for the United States to remain competitive and innovative, it's vital to address the physical and emotional burden of depression," said Lead Author and Co-Investigator David Adler, MD, Senior Psychiatrist at Tufts-New England Medical Center. "Depression hits at all levels of health, and figuring out new ways for people to improve functioning is more important than ever."

The three groups were surveyed using reliable, validated self-administrated questionnaires. The Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) developed under the direction of Debra Lerner, MS, PhD, Study Principal Investigator and Director of Tufts-NEMC's Institute of Clinical Research's Program on Health, Work and Productivity, was used to measure the effect of chronic health problems on job performance and productivity. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was utilized to both screen and follow patient's depression. The National Institute of Mental Health funded the four-year study.

The study enrolled 572 patients who were recruited from February 2001 and March 2003 from primary care physician offices covered by Tufts Health Plan, the Fallon Clinic and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Participants were followed for 18 months. At baseline, 44 percent of the depressed group was taking antidepressants, but were still clinically depressed.

"Depression is an issue that effects employees, their families and employers," said Dr. Lerner. The cost of lost productivity is staggeringly large. "There is a prevailing myth that many chronically ill people prefer to go out on disability, but our experience is that most want to continue to work and feel productive. Also, many realize that disability benefits will not fully replace earnings and will result in economic hardship.

Instituting increased and improved services to help people with depression remain productive could be a win/win for both employers and employees."

E Tufts-New England Medical Center
http://www.nemc.org/home/

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