Prescriptive Guide for Getting the Depressed Employee Back to Work

Depression affects millions of people throughout the world. This illness can disrupt both family and work life. Work productivity and absenteeism may result in significant financial burden, for the both the employee and employer. Faced with the challenges of getting depressed employees back to work, health care providers and employers must be given the tools to help guide the return-to-work process. The purpose of this article is to review symptoms, risk factors, and the diagnosis of depression associated with the return-to-work process and provide readers with a patient-centered approach to writing a work prescription.