Raymond Lam
People with clinical depression functioned better at work and were more productive after receiving treatment that was specially tailored to their job schedules.
A multi-centre study in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary led by Psychiatry Professor Raymond Lam found that people with Major Depressive Disorder who received a combination of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) over the phone, in combination with antidepressant medication, reported being more productive at work than those who only received medication.
The article, published Nov. 1 in the British Journal of Psychiatry showed that the medication, escitalopram (known by its commercial name, Cipralex), by itself helped reduce depressive symptoms in most study participants. Although there was no statistically significant difference in symptom improvement between both groups, those who also had telephone-based CBT had higher scores on measures of work productivity.
Working people with depression might not seek help due to fear of missing work or needing time off for treatment. However, the study showed that workers with depression can benefit from a combination of regular medical care and “talk therapy” that is offered via telephone at flexible times, including evenings and weekends. Working people might find such therapy to be particularly helpful in reducing work-related stress and improving overall job performance.
“People with depression might avoid getting help for many reasons,” says Dr. Lam, Director of the Mood Disorders Centre at UBC Hospital. “For those who maintain regular jobs, missing work to see a doctor or therapist can pose extra barriers – the worker might fall behind in his or her duties, or be afraid of stigma surrounding mental health treatment. But, when therapy for depression is convenient and accessible and doesn’t interfere with work, people can stay or become more productive at their jobs. Obviously, it’s win-win for workers and their employers.”
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting at least five per cent of the population at any given time. In Canada, as many as seven out of ten workers with MDD continue to attend their jobs but often struggle to perform their work duties because of their symptoms. The impact of MDD on work functioning can be measured in rates of absenteeism, “presenteeism” (reduced productivity while at work), and disability insurance claims. Currently, the financial cost of MDD in Canada is over $5 billion annually, representing both a public-health priority and a substantial economic burden on our society.