Screening for depression in the occupational health setting

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Workplace depression significantly impacts productivity and incurs substantial costs in the USA.
• Depression is a prevalent mental health concern affecting employed populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of depression within an occupational health (OH) practice.
• To assess the impact of depression screening at the point of care in an OH setting.

Main Methods:

• A depression screening tool (PHQ-9) was administered to patients in an OH practice.
• Screened patients were compared to an unscreened historical control group from the same clinic.
• Outcomes measured included depression diagnosis, absenteeism, and work restrictions over one year.

Main Results:

• Screening identified a higher frequency of current depression (30% vs. 4%).
• Screening was linked to fewer days on restricted duties (97 vs. 159 days).
• Adjusted analysis showed screening reduced odds of work restrictions (OR 0.55) and permanent restrictions (OR 0.35).

Conclusions:

• Depression is a common issue encountered in occupational health practices.
• Systematic depression screening, coupled with timely referral, can mitigate work-related restrictions for employees.
• Early intervention in OH settings may reduce the duration and severity of work limitations due to depression.