Depression in the workplace has become more severe due to factors such as prolonged deflationary recession, employment diversification, the declining birthrate and an aging population. Suicide rates are also high among developed countries, and the number of patients with mood disorders (and also sales of antidepressants) is increasing. As birth-rates continue to decline and populations continue to age, so too does the burden on the working generation increase.
Clinical practice around workplace depression, however, is complicated by the problem of "non-endogenous" depression. Non-endogenous depression: 1) is common among adolescents and mild in general, and is therefore difficult to identify next to mild (endogenous) depression, 2) goes away during enjoyable leisure time, 3) tends to develop due to work or academic difficulties, 4) is pre-morbid with personalities that are immature, self-centered, and that tend to blame others, and 5) may improve rapidly due to changes in the environment, etc.
As such, non-endogenous depression is difficult for people around the workplace to understand. It is also difficult for occupational physicians to deal with it because that would put them between the patient and the company.
This article helps to explore better solutions for attending physicians and occupational physicians to deal with this complicated depression in the workplace with the keywords of biology-psychology-social factors.
Author's abstract
Understanding Depression in Workplace and Collaboration between Psychiatrists and Occupational Physicians
Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
123: 75-80, 2021
<Keywords:depression, workplace, non-endogenous, biology-psychology-social factors, occupational physician>