title: The association of treatment of depressive episodes and work productivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  About one-third of the annual $51 billion cost of mental illnesses is related to productivity losses. However, few studies have examined the association of treatment and productivity. The purpose of our research is to examine the association of depression and its treatment and work productivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our analyses used data from 2737 adults aged between 18 and 65 years who participated in a large-scale community survey of employed and recently employed people in Alberta. Using the World Health Organization's Health and Work Performance Questionnaire, a productivity variable was created to capture high productivity (above the 75th percentile). We used regression methods to examine the association of mental disorders and their treatment and productivity, controlling for demographic factors and job characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the sample, about 8.5% experienced a depressive episode in the past year. The regression results indicated that people who had a severe depressive episode were significantly less likely to be highly productive. Compared with people who had a moderate or severe depressive episode who did not have treatment, those who did have treatment were significantly more likely to be highly productive. However, about one-half of workers with a moderate or severe depressive episode did not receive treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results corroborate those in the literature that indicate mental disorders are significantly associated with decreased work productivity. In addition, these findings indicate that treatment for these disorders is significantly associated with productivity. Our results also highlight the low proportion of workers with a mental disorder who receive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario. carolyn_dewa@camh.net
authors.forename: Carolyn S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dewa
authors.forename: Angus H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004526:Efficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce