Depression and work performance: The work and health initiative study

Abstract

Depression, a chronic, episodic condition affecting at least 4.9% of the working age population (Blazer et al.1994), causes substantial functional limitation and social role disability (Wells 1985, 1997; Wells et al. 1991). Since Wells et al. (1989) first reported on the disabling impact of depression in the 1980s, evidence of its human and economic burdens has continued to accumulate (Druss et al. 2000; Hirschfeld et al. 1998). As a result, there is a greater awareness of the adverse impact of depression on employment and work productivity. Thus, it is not an overstatement to say that depression is a major threat to the-public's health, quality of life, and economic well-being. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.