Productivity at work gives clues about depression recovery

Monitoring productivity at work provides insight into whether a patient will require additional treatment for depression, according to a new study by the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute.
Those whose productivity increased more quickly recovered more from their symptoms and were more likely to recover over the long term, the study found.
These findings suggest that patients still having productivity problems at work may need to add exercise or cognitive therapy to overcome depression in the long term, said senior author Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, director of the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care, part of the O’Donnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The study looked at aspects of depression not commonly evaluated, such as cognitive function, motivation, energy, and concentration. Among depression symptoms, energy and concentration are most strongly associated with work productivity.
“Those who do not show early improvement in work productivity are a different group of patients than those who do,” said Trivedi.
It shows that doctors need to personalize treatment, beyond simply prescribing antidepressants, to accelerate recovery, he said. It adds to growing evidence that a more comprehensive treatment approach is needed.
Trivedi said a proportion of patients may need additional treatment to augment their medication, from psychotherapy and telephone-based coaching to physical exercise, all treatments that can reduce depression symptoms. He said he intends to conduct future studies in which doctors alter treatments to address motivation, concentration and work productivity, with the goal of improving success rates.
“Finding the precise formula that works for each patient will be a key part of future research — tailoring treatment for the individual patient,” he said. “One size does not fit all.”
Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center: utsouthwestern.edu