Depression And Anxiety Disorders: A Case Study

Abstract
This paper analyzes the relationship between depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder on work related behaviors. The following studies; Harvard Mental Health Newsletter (2010), Lerner et al. (2010), Ludman et al. (2008), Erickson et. al (2008), and Marciniak et al. (2004) have found that there is a significant effect on work-related behaviors in the work force primarily involving absenteeism for depression and bipolar disorder and presenteeism for anxiety disorders. The research by Laxman et. al (2008) concludes that due to stigmas employees suffer in the workplace after interpersonal relationships are negatively impacted. McTernan et al. (2013) calls for a balance between PSC; psychological safety climate
The reason can be attributed to the employee’s fear of being socially sanctioned or discriminated against by employers and co-workers. But the stigma attached to having a psychiatric disorder is such that employees may be reluctant to seek treatment—especially in the current economic climate—out of fear that they might jeopardize their jobs (Harvard University, 2010, p. 1). The reluctance to report their conditions results in reduced work productivity and at times can worsen their condition by not seeking treatment. When employees do not seek treatment this ends up hurting them and the organization significantly in financial and social ways. This paper focuses primarily on the effects of depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder on work related behaviors. According to the Harvard Mental Health Letter 6% of employees experience symptoms of depression over the course of a year. The statistics barely vary overseas in Australia where McTernan et al. (2013) conducted a study investigating the impact of depression in the workplace. Major depression rates in Australia are reported at 6.3% and, “Rates of depression over a lifetime, with one or more lifetime episodes of major depressive disorder, are high than the Australian 12-month prevalence, at 14.7% of the Australian workforce (McTernan, Dollard, & LaMontagne, 2013, p. 322). These statistics are estimated to have cost Australian
study people with anxiety disorders in the work force report to be more significantly more impaired particularly when they are high in severity. With these impairments significant costs differences amongst employees without anxiety disorders are almost guaranteed to be associated. Marciniak et al. (2004) states that the estimated costs for anxiety disorders in the US are between 43.3 and 46.6 billion. These costs consist of direct medical costs as well as the indirect costs associated with mortality, morbidity, and reduced productivity (Marciniak, Lage, Landbloom, Dunayevich, & Bowman, 2004, p. 12). Data was collected from MedStat’s MarketScan and HPM databases for six large companies. There were a total of 1917 subjects selected with anxiety and an equal amount of subjects without