Occupations and the prevalence of major depressive disorder
Article Abstract:
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is generally diagnosed in an individual who reports a period of two or more weeks of sadness, plus symptoms in any four of the following eight categories: sleep, appetite, fatigue, slowdown of body movements or of thinking, feelings of worthlessness or sinfulness, loss of usual pleasureful experience, and suicidal thoughts, desires or attempts. These symptoms must be exclusive of the effects of alcohol, physical injury, illness, or drugs. The prevalence of MDD was compared across a series of 104 occupations, with a large population sample in each occupational group. The data were extracted from records generated during the early 1980s for the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Program, a five-site collaborative survey which estimated the incidence and prevalence of psychopathology. The data were collected, reviewed, and analyzed by staff skilled in psychopathologic interviews. The results of these interviews were characterized according to DIS/DSM-III (Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III). The highest prevalence of MDD was found among data entry keyers and computer equipment operators. Teachers, counselors, typists, and lawyers also had a high rate of MDD. Adjustments for unemployment, employment, retirement, and demographic variables of age, gender, race, ethnicity and education were included in the analysis. Women had higher rates of MDD than men; whites were higher than blacks or Hispanics; individuals with less education had higher rates than more educated people; and unemployed persons had higher MDD rates than those employed in their chosen field. Marital status was not included as a variable in the study, and thus may confound the results by exerting its own effect on the participants. The findings confirm that stress and stressful employment contribute to MDD. The presence of autonomy, environmental control and selection, timing and flow of workloads and levels reduced the development of MDD. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1990
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Epidemiology of depression and alcohol abuse/dependence in a managerial and professional work force
Article Abstract:
Employers in the United States are recognizing the financial advantages of offering employees treatment for drug and alcohol abuse and psychiatric problems. The numbers of such treatment programs are rising dramatically as corporations react to increased health benefit costs and impaired workers with reduced productivity. Studies are needed to determine the number of employees in different job categories who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse. Approximately one quarter of the work force consists of white-collar employees in professional and managerial positions. This research project involved lengthy interviews with 1,870 managers and professionals, aged 25 to 55 years, who were employed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The purpose of the study was to determine the lifetime and one-year incidence of depression and alcohol abuse/dependence, and to identify risk factors for these problems. For men, lifetime and one-year rates of major depression (as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition revised) were 23 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Thirty-six percent of women had experienced depression in their lifetime and 17 percent, in the previous year. Alcohol abuse was defined in two different ways, with prevalence rates for men ranging from 11 to 16 percent in their lifetime and 3 to 4 percent in the past year; for women the rates were 5 to 9 percent and 2 to 4 percent, respectively. Job position, supervisory responsibility, and hours worked per day were not associated with these diagnoses. Instead, the most significant risk factors for alcohol abuse were being male, single, and having a family history of alcoholism. The major risk factors for depression were being female, separated or divorced, and having a family history of depression. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1990
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Effects of job stress on occurrence of major depression in Japanese industry: a case-control study nested in a cohort study
Article Abstract:
Disorders linked with depression (not including manic-depressive disorders) are relatively common in industry. Work and life factors clearly may influence depression, but the influence of psychosocial work factors on its development has not been well studied. Questionnaires about job stresses, including job overload, excess overtime, jobs unsuitable for skills, human relation problems, recent job change, and forced pacing, were answered by 3,551 employees in two Japanese factories annually over a three-year period. Fifteen employees developed major depression during this time, and they cited problems with unsuitable jobs and human relations significantly more than other employees. Several factors may prevent a straightforward interpretation of these results, including the fact that perception of job stresses may be influenced by a developing depression. Further study of the relationship of job stresses to depression is needed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1990
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