Enhanced and systematic efforts to identify and treat depression in the workplace significantly improves employee health and productivity, likely leading to lower costs overall for the employer, according to a study funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Previous studies have shown that employees who are depressed are less productive and are absent more often. Other studies have shown that organised screening and enhanced depression treatment can significantly improve health. However, few employers have implemented such programs, in part because their return on investment is unclear.
“This study provides compelling evidence of the importance of workplace depression screening, outreach, and enhanced treatment,†said NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. “It is in the interest of workers’ health and the company’s bottom line to ensure depressed employees are effectively treated.â€
Half of the participants were randomly assigned to an intervention that included telephone support and their choice of telephone psychotherapy, in-person psychotherapy or antidepressant medication. The other half of the participants were assigned to usual care, which included feedback about their screening results, and advice to seek care from their doctor.
After twelve months, those in the intervention group were forty percent more likely to have recovered from their depression compared to those in usual care. Participants in the intervention group also were seventy percent more likely to stay employed, and worked an average of two more hours per week than those in usual care.
Although the data did not lend itself to a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis, the researchers noted that just the value of more hours worked among those in the intervention group who were employed far exceeds the costs associated with the type of outreach and intervention program used in the study.
“For many people, a large chunk of their lives is devoted to work. Depression affects not only a person’s health, but also his or her ability to work,†noted Dr. Wang. “Employers should consider a depression screening and intervention program as a healthy, win-win investment.â€
Reference
Wang, P. S., Simon, G. E., Avorn, J., Azocar, F., Ludman, E.J., McCulloch, J., Petukhova, M.Z., & Kessler, R.C. (2007). Telephone screening, outreach and care management for depressed workers and impact on clinical and work productivity outcomes, a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 298, 1401-11.
