Treatment for depression increases work productivity: study

People who experienced a depressive episode were significantly less likely to be highly productive,the study showed.

We expected this,as past research has found that depression has adverse effects on comprehension,social participation,and day-to-day-functioning, said Dr Carolyn Dewa,head of CAMHs Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health and lead author of the study.

Whats exciting is we found that treatment for depression improves work productivity. People who had experienced a moderate depressive episode and received treatment were 2.5 times more likely to be highly productive compared with those who had no treatment.

Likewise,people who experienced severe depression were seven times more likely to be high-performing than those who had no treatment, she said.

Of the 3,000 workers in the sample,8.5 per cent experienced a depressive episode,representing 255 workers.

Though the results showed the effectiveness of treatment on work and performance,the data also showed a troubling trend 8212; many of those suffering from depression did not seek treatment.

We found that among all study participants who had been diagnosed with a severe depressive episode,57 per cent did not receive treatment; 40 per cent of those who experienced a moderate depressive episode did not receive treatment, Dr. Dewa said.

Stigma and discrimination have often affected peoples willingness to access to services,as has the lack of knowledge around supports available in the workplace, she added.