Work ability in sick-listed patients with major depressive disorder

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) 2008-10, Vol.58 (7), p.475-479
• Main Authors: Slebus, Frans G., Kuijer, P. Paul F. M., Willems, J. (Han) H. B. M., Frings-Dresen, Monique H. W., Sluiter, Judith K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Delphi Technique; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Depressive Disorder, Major - rehabilitation; Female; Humans; Instrument; Ips; major depressive disorder; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; work ability evaluation; Work Capacity Evaluation; work disability
• ISSN: 0962-7480; 1471-8405
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqn091

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often a chronic relapsing disease resulting in work disability. For evaluation purposes a practical set of aspects of work ability would be helpful. Aim To identify the most important disease-specific aspects of work ability for sick-listed employees with MDD. Methods An expert brainstorming session identified the specific abilities that were thought to be associated with work ability in sick-listed employees with MDD and that could also be associated with the items of the Hamilton Rating scale for Depression. Sixty-four insurance physicians (IPs) were then selected to participate in a two-round Delphi study. The aim of the first Delphi round was to identify the abilities that were thought to be important by at least 80% of the IPs. In the second Delphi round, the abilities ranked in the top 10 by at least 55% of the IPs were identified as being the most important items. Results Sixty-one IPs participated in the two Delphi rounds. The most important abilities to be evaluated in work ability evaluation for sick-listed employees with MDD were to take notice, to sustain attention, to focus attention, to complete operations, to think in a goal-directed manner, to remember, to perform routine operations, to undertake structured work activities, to recall and to perform autonomously. Conclusion According to 55% of the IPs, there were 10 important aspects of work ability that have to be considered in a work ability evaluation of sick-listed employees with MDD.