Research Plus

Improved work outcomes for employees with depression

A randomised controlled trial evaluated workplace and clinical outcomes of a telephone-based outreach and care management programme designed to identify depression and promote better treatment – the first study of its kind to be carried out exclusively on employed people. Depression severity and work performance were measured using validated questionnaires. The outreach group recorded significantly lower depression severity compared with controls at six and 12 months, 2.6 extra hours worked per week – equivalent to two weeks a year – and increased job retention.

Journal of the American Medical Association 2007; 298: 1401–1411.  http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=208957

Tags depression evidence based practice

Occupational Health at Work October/November 2007 (vol. 04/3) pp41