title: Capacity to work while depressed and anxious--a phenomenological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to explore experiences of capacity to work in persons working while depressed and anxious in order to identify the essence of the phenomenon capacity to work.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four focus groups were conducted with 17 participants employed within the regular job market. Illness experiences ranged from symptoms to clinical diagnoses. A phenomenological approach was employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phenomenon of capacity to work was distinguished by nine constituents related to task, time, context and social interactions. The phenomenon encompassed a lost familiarity with one's ordinary work performance, the use of a working facade and adoption of new time-consuming work practices. Feelings of exposure in interpersonal encounters, disruption of work place order, lost "refueling" and a trade-off of between work capacity and leisure-time activities was also identified. The reduced capacity was pointed out as invisible, this invisibility was considered troublesome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A complex and comprehensive concept emerged, not earlier described in work capacity studies. Rehabilitation processes would benefit from deeper knowledge of the individual's capacity to work in order to make efficient adjustments at work. Results can have particular relevance both in clinical and occupational health practice, as well as in the workplaces, in supporting re-entering workers after sickness absence. Implications for Rehabilitation The reduced capacity to work due to depression and anxiety is not always understandable or observable for others, therefore, the rehabilitation process would benefit from increased knowledge and understanding of the difficulties afflicted individuals experience at work. Identifying tasks that contribute to "refueling" at work might enhance the success of the rehabilitation. Rehabilitation programs could be tailored to better address the inabilities that impact on the capacity to work when depressed and anxious.
authors: Institute of Medicine/Social Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden .
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Bertilsson
authors: Eva-Lisa
authors: EL
authors: Petersson
authors: Gunnel
authors: G
authors: Ostlund
authors: Margda
authors: M
authors: Waern
authors: Gunnel
authors: G
authors: Hensing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards