Lerner D, Adler DA, Rogers WH, et al. Work performance of employees with depression: the impact of work stressors. Am J Health Promot. 2010; 24(3):205-213.

Major depressive disorders, and similar conditions, have a strong impact on the everyday lives of those affected. A current analysis, published in the January/February 2010 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, examines the effect of depression in the workplace.

This study included adult employees recruited from providers' offices between 2001 and 2003. Researchers compared the workplace habits of 286 depressed workers to those of 193 who were not depressed. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the depressed group had more difficulty at work. The depressed workers had several problems including lack of motivation, fatigue, managing their workload and routines, keeping up with a fast pace, and multitasking, which inhibited their ability to control their work and thus lowered their productivity. This problem has become widespread, and poses large economic and human costs.

Fortunately, companies have started to establish workplace depression screening, support, and treatment programs. By combating depression in the workplace, employers will not only help raise morale and productivity, but also reduce indirect workplace costs caused by the disorder.