Screening for Depression in the Occupational Health Setting

Details

• Personal Author:
  Breeher LE ; Molella RG ; Murad MH ; Newcomb RD ; Steffen MW ; Sturchio GM ; Wang Z
• Description:
  Background: The cost of workplace absenteeism and presenteeism due to depression in the USA is substantial. Aims: To assess the frequency of depression and its impact at the point of care in an occupational health (OH) practice. Methods: Patients presenting to an OH practice completed a standardized depression screening tool and were compared to an unscreened group in the same clinic. Respondents with a nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score >15 and untreated for depression were referred for further evaluation per usual practice. A comparison group of unscreened patients were selected from the same clinic from 1 year prior and records were reviewed for evidence of prior depression, treatment and outcomes. After 1 year, frequency of depression, PHQ-9 scoring for screened patients, days absent from work, days on restricted duties and permanent restrictions were recorded for both groups. Results: Two hundred and five patients were screened for depression. Screening was associated with increased frequency of a diagnosis of current depression (30 versus 4%; P < 0.05). Screening was associated with similar rates of absenteeism but lower number of days on restricted duties (97 versus 159 days; P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, history of and treatment for depression, screening was associated with lower odds of being on work restrictions [odds ratio (OR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.78] or permanent restrictions (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.23-0.52). Conclusions: Depression was common in this OH practice. Screening for depression, with appropriate recognition and referral, may reduce time for employed patients on restricted duties and permanent restrictions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Absenteeism Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Mental Disorders Mental Health Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Depression Clinical Techniques Disability Management Health Care Facilities Medical Treatment Mental Disorders Occupational Health Psychological Disorders Psychosocial Factors Screening Screening Programs Worker Health

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• ISSN:
  0962-7480
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  390-393
• Volume:
  66
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053450
• Citation:
  Occup Med 2016 Jul; 66(5):390-393
• Contact Point Address:
  R. Newcomb, Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
• Email:
  newcomb.richard@mayo.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational Medicine
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:df972ab000fb28682a88aaad8b8f500a9dc058fdf99024cb9267c11831c55fd4f6adf914f730324a40f22bc8abc2fb8785c1173e13a8f7ea4a13c23003073d8b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216201/cdc_216201_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.21 MB ]