Do Antidepressants Reduce the Burden Imposed by Depression on Employers?

The ability to perform paid or unpaid work is integral to an individual’s quality of life. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature review to examine the impact of depression and its treatment on occupational outcomes. This review found absenteeism from work to be markedly higher among depressed employees and productivity to be dramatically undermined by some symptoms of depression. Gaps in the published literature point to the need for future economic and clinical analyses to include work-related outcomes.

Published studies showed that antidepressants can enhance work-related outcomes by alleviating affective symptoms. However, the pharmacological properties of antidepressants may produce differential effects that influence work-related outcomes in other ways. For example, TCAs, but not SSRIs, produce sedation and impair cognitive function in ways that could undermine work-related outcomes. Formal analyses are required to quantify whether the improved social functioning, motivation and vigilance that may be associated with some newer antidepressants translate into improved work-related outcomes. Although few published studies have directly quantified the cost benefit of managing depression and associated lost productivity, existing studies that directly assessed work-related outcomes have suggested that treating depression is cost effective.

Gaps in the published literature imply that the impact of depression and antidepressants on occupational outcomes has been understudied. This reflects, in part, the fact that antidepressant studies lasting 4 or 6 weeks are unlikely to capture the impact of treatment on work-related measures. In addition, the current evidence base is fraught with other methodological limitations. The effect of depression on non-paid employment also requires further assessment.

In conclusion, the efficacy of antidepressants on work-related outcomes should be measured in clinical trials that have an adequate design and a suitable follow-up period, and included in health technology assessments. Until such studies are available, the evidence base supporting the use of antidepressants will remain incomplete.