Work functioning impairment in the course of pharmacotherapy treatment for depression

Abstract

This study investigated the association between the duration of pharmacotherapy treatment for depression, or discontinuation from treatment, and work functioning impairment. This was a retrospective cohort study examining 30,409 workers. Work functioning impairment was assessed using a questionnaire, and treatment status was assessed using medical claims data. Odds ratios (ORs) of workers with severe work functioning impairment compared with healthy workers (control group) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Continuous medical treatment was associated with severely impaired work functioning regardless of treatment period [continuous medical treatment; 4 months <: OR = 3.2, 4 months ≥, 10 months <: OR = 2.6, 10 months ≥, 14 months <: OR = 2.3, 14 months ≥, 16 months <: OR = 2.3, which are all statistically significant (p < 0.05)]. Workers who initially received pharmacotherapy treatment but discontinued in < 11 months had a significantly higher OR (treatment discontinuation period; 3 months <: OR = 2.3, 3 months ≥, 8 months <; OR = 2.0, 8 months ≥, 11 months <; OR = 3.0), while those who discontinued at ≥ 11 months did not (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 0.6–3.5). The sensitivity analysis excluding participants with at least one psychiatric comorbidity other than depression did not change the final result. It is important for the occupational health practitioners and attending psychiatrists to follow up in cooperation with each other, paying attention to the decrease in work functioning in addition to the symptoms.

Disrupted care during the COVID-19 state of emergency and productivity loss attributed to presenteeism in workers: a nationwide cross-sectional study

“…The finding about medication is consistent with a previous study of depression, which showed that depressed employees often experience long-term loss of work performance when they run out of drugs. 30 Our study also demonstrated that disruptions in routine clinical settings showed a relatively weak association with reduced productivity at work (aOR 1.67) when compared with running out of drugs (aOR 2.58) or disruptions in non-routine clinical settings (aOR 2.34). Family doctors tried to offer patients routine care visits during the COVID-19 pandemic whenever they showed symptoms of exacerbated clinical conditions.…”

Effects of Adjunctive Brexpiprazole on Individual Depressive Symptoms and Functioning in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Anxious Distress

“…35 The lack of benefit on work/studies is likely to be explained by the short duration of the present studies (6 weeks), because patients with depression, especially those with inadequate response to ADT, are prone to persistent impairment in occupational functioning. [36][37][38] This persistent impairment may be attributed to residual cognitive symptoms, such as impaired attention, executive function, and verbal memory, as well as the adverse effects of antidepressant medications. [38][39][40] With regard to dosing, the effects of the brexpiprazole 2 mg and 2 to 3 mg doses were generally similar, although a greater number of MADRS items had P < 0.05 versus placebo in the 2 to 3 mg analysis, likely reflecting the larger sample size.…”

A study on family function status and its influencing factors of frontline health workers fighting Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

“…Longer shared family time can improve the relationship within the family; promoting the mental health of family members and reducing the degree of depression [16]. Depression patients are often accompanied by varying degrees of work capacity loss [17]. The lack of parental affection and the reduction of communication with parents (usually when the medical workers are parents) will also significantly affect the physical and mental development of children [18] because parent-child interaction is an important regulatory way to support children's continuous development [19].…”