Background: About one-third of the cost of mental illnesses is related to productivity losses. Here we examine the association of treated depression 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 WHO 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 depression, their treatment and productivity, controlling for demographic and job characteristics.
Results: About 8.5% experienced a depressive episode in the past year. The regression results indicated that depressed respondents were significantly less likely to be highly productive - the greater the severity the greater the productivity loss. However, this affect was attenuated for those who had received treatement. Unfortunately,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 and that more comprehensive treatment services are needed.