Depressive Symptoms and Risk of Occupational and Non-occupational Injury in the US Working Population

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between depressive symptoms and the subsequent incidence of injury by its work-relatedness in the US working population. This study analysed pooled panel data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 31,138 workers, aged 18 to 64 years, during the years 2000-06. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the EuroQoL (EQ-5D), a general mental distress scale (K-6) and Patients Health Questionnaire 2 item depression screener (PHQ-2). Injuries were identified from the medical conditions captured in personal interviews and coded using the ICD-9 by coders trained in the MEPS. A discrete time proportional odds model was used to calculate the relative risks. A total of 7.9% of workers had depressive symptoms at the baseline. Among workers with depressive symptoms at baseline, 13.1% reported a nonoccupational injury, 6.2% reported an occupational injury during follow-up. Workers with depressive symptoms are at an increased, but a similar risk of both occupational and non-occupational injury. For workers treated with antidepressants, the analysis did not reveal a different pattern of association with either type of injury occurrence. This association between depressive symptoms and injury diminished over time. Earlier intervention for workers with depressive symptoms in the workplace could be beneficial for preventing injuries.