Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Wang, P. S. Articles by Kessler, R. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Wang, P. S. Articles by Kessler, R. C. Costs, Cost Analysis Depression Other Research Techniques

Effects of Major Depression on Moment-in-Time Work Performance

OBJECTIVE: Although major depression is thought to have substantial negative effects on work performance, the possibility of recall bias limits self-report studies of these effects. The authors used the experience sampling method to address this problem by collecting comparative data on moment-in-time work performance among service workers who were depressed and those who were not depressed. METHOD: The group studied included 105 airline reservation agents and 181 telephone customer service representatives selected from a larger baseline sample; depressed workers were deliberately oversampled. Respondents were given pagers and experience sampling method diaries for each day of the study. A computerized autodialer paged respondents at random time points. When paged, respondents reported on their work performance in the diary. Moment-in-time work performance was assessed at five random times each day over a 7-day data collection period (35 data points for each respondent). RESULTS: Seven conditions (allergies, arthritis, back pain, headaches, high blood pressure, asthma, and major depression) occurred often enough in this group of respondents to be studied. Major depression was the only condition significantly related to decrements in both of the dimensions of work performance assessed in the diaries: task focus and productivity. These effects were equivalent to approximately 2.3 days absent because of sickness per depressed worker per month of being depressed. CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies based on days missed from work significantly underestimate the adverse economic effects associated with depression. Productivity losses related to depression appear to exceed the costs of effective treatment.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Virtanen, J. Pentti, J. Vahtera, J. E. Ferrie, S. A. Stansfeld, H. Helenius, M. Elovainio, T. Honkonen, K. Terho, T. Oksanen, et al. Overcrowding in Hospital Wards as a Predictor of Antidepressant Treatment Among Hospital Staff Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2008; 165(11): 1482 - 1486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. P. Roy-Byrne, K. W. Davidson, R. C. Kessler, G. J.G. Asmundson, R. D. Goodwin, L. Kubzansky, R. B. Lydiard, M. J. Massie, W. Katon, S. K. Laden, et al. Anxiety Disorders and Comorbid Medical Illness Focus, September 1, 2008; 6(4): 467 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Brenninkmeijer, I. Houtman, and R. Blonk Depressed and absent from work: predicting prolonged depressive symptomatology among employees Occup. Med., June 1, 2008; 58(4): 295 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Glozier, M. L. Hackett, V. Parag, C. S. Anderson, and for the Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) The Influence of Psychiatric Morbidity on Return to Paid Work After Stroke in Younger Adults: The Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) Study, 2002 to 2003 Stroke, May 1, 2008; 39(5): 1526 - 1532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Overland, N. Glozier, S. Krokstad, and A. Mykletun Undertreatment Before the Award of a Disability Pension for Mental Illness: The HUNT Study Psychiatr Serv, November 1, 2007; 58(11): 1479 - 1482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Merikangas, M. Ames, L. Cui, P. E. Stang, T. B. Ustun, M. Von Korff, and R. C. Kessler The Impact of Comorbidity of Mental and Physical Conditions on Role Disability in the US Adult Household Population Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2007; 64(10): 1180 - 1188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H.-M. Vasiliadis, A. Lesage, C. Adair, P. S. Wang, and R. C. Kessler Do Canada and the United States Differ in Prevalence of Depression and Utilization of Services? Psychiatr Serv, January 1, 2007; 58(1): 63 - 71. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Wang, A. Patrick, J. Avorn, F. Azocar, E. Ludman, J. McCulloch, G. Simon, and R. Kessler The Costs and Benefits of Enhanced Depression Care to Employers Arch Gen Psychiatry, December 1, 2006; 63(12): 1345 - 1353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Adler, T. J. McLaughlin, W. H. Rogers, H. Chang, L. Lapitsky, and D. Lerner Job Performance Deficits Due to Depression Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2006; 163(9): 1569 - 1576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Mykletun, S. Overland, A. A. Dahl, S. Krokstad, O. Bjerkeset, N. Glozier, L. E. Aaro, and M. Prince A Population-Based Cohort Study of the Effect of Common Mental Disorders on Disability Pension Awards Am J Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 163(8): 1412 - 1418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Timbie, M. Horvitz-Lennon, R. G. Frank, and S.-L. T. Normand A Meta-Analysis of Labor Supply Effects of Interventions for Major Depressive Disorder Psychiatr Serv, February 1, 2006; 57(2): 212 - 218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. A. Pincus, J. K. Houtsinger, J. Bachman, and D. Keyser Depression In Primary Care: Bringing Behavioral Health Care Into The Mainstream Health Aff., January 1, 2005; 24(1): 271 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Moran Depressed Workers on the Job Hurt the Bottom Line Psychiatr News, November 5, 2004; 39(21): 5 - 5. [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2004 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us