THE IMPACT OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS ON WORK LOSS DAYS

Background, To examine relationships between recent DSM-III-R psychiat ric disorders and work impairment in major occupational groups in the US labour force.Method, Data are from the US National Comorbidity Surv ey (NCS), a survey of respondents ages 15-54 in the US. Employed peopl e are the focus of the report. Results. There is substantial variation across occupations in the 30-day prevalences of NCS/ DSM-III-R psychi atric disorders, with an average prevalence of 18.2% (range: 11.0-29.6 %) for any disorder, The average prevalences of psychiatric work loss days (6 days per month per 100 workers) and work cutback days (31 days per month per 100 workers), in comparison, do not differ significantl y across occupations. Work impairment is more strongly concentrated am ong the 3.7 % of the workforce with co-morbid psychiatric disorders (4 9 work loss days and 346 work cutback days per month per 100 workers) than the 14.5% with pure disorders (11 work loss days and 66 work cutb ack days per month per 100 workers) or the 81.8% with no disorder (2 w ork loss days and 11 work cutback days per month per 100 workers). The effects of psychiatric disorders on work loss are similar across all occupations, while effects on work cutback are greater among professio nal workers than those in other occupations, Conclusion, The results r eported here suggest that work impairment is one of the adverse conseq uences of psychiatric disorders. The current policy debate concerning insurance coverage for mental disorders needs to take these consequenc es into consideration.