[Disability caused by affective disorders--what do the Federal German Health report data teach us?]

To bring the data from the Federal German Health report about work disability and pensioning into context with current knowledge about the course and etiology of depression.

The report data about first-time recipients of a disability pension were analysed by year, illness and gender. Resulting data were interpreted and were compared with international publications.

The percentage of applications for disability pensions due to psychiatric illnesses have been rising steadily for two decades. Among these, depression (31%) and neurotic disorders (23%) are most frequently responsible, while most other causes of disability have been declining. Current treatment of depressive disorders does not seem to have had any effect in terms of reducing the number of disabled persons per year.

Although the risk factors associated with developing a depressive disorder have been extensively studied, data explaining the progression into disability is scarce but essential. More research in the psychodynamics of depression and work participation might be helpful.