Depressed and absent from work: predicting prolonged depressive symptomatology among employees.
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization considers depression a major health problem and a leading cause of disability.


OBJECTIVE
To identify factors which may help to reduce depressive symptoms in a sample of employees sick listed due to mental health problems.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study of employees sick listed for 12-20 weeks due to mental health problems. Individuals were followed for 1 year. After a screening questionnaire, we conducted standardized interviews by telephone, assessing individuals' mental health, work characteristics and actions by employers.


RESULTS
A total of 555 employees commenced the study and 436 participated in the second interview. Response rates were 42% for the screening questionnaire, 93% for the first interview and 79% for the second interview. Individuals with low education and sole breadwinners showed a less favourable course of depressive symptoms. Work resumption (partial and full) and changing the employee's tasks (action by employer) promoted a more favourable course of depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings point to the importance of work resumption and a change in work tasks in order to promote recovery. Using these insights, management of employees suffering from depressive complaints may be improved.
Brenninkmeijer
Veerle
V
Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. v.brenninkmeijer@uu.nl
Houtman
Irene
I
Blonk
Roland
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology