Reducing perceived cognitive deficits to promote occupational re-engagement in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder.

Research Objectives: To examine whether treatment-related reductions in perceived cognitive deficits improves return-to-work outcomes in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder.

Design: This was a prospective study examining changes in perceived cognitive deficits though the course of a 10-week behavioural activation intervention.

Setting: Treatment was provided in-person at various rehabilitation clinics in Canada.

Participants: The participant sample consisted on 120 work-disable individuals with Major Depressive Disorder who were enrolled in a 10-week behavioural activation intervention.

Interventions: All participants were enrolled in a risk-targeted behavioural activation intervention designed to reduce psychosocial barriers to occupational re-engagement.

Main Outcome Measures: Main outcome measures include; perceived cognitive deficits, depressive symptom severity, self-reported disability and return-to-work.

Results: Consistent with previous research, depressive symptom severity and perceived cognitive deficits were associated with more prolonged occupational disability. Regression analyses revealed that treatment-relation reductions in perceived cognitive deficits predicted successful occupational re-engament beyond the variance associated with demographic variables and depressive symptom severity.

Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the importance of perceived cognitive deficits as a determinant of occupational disability in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder. Screening for perceived cognitive deficits might be useful in streaming treatment services in a manner that will improve return-to-work outo=comes in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors declare no conflict of interest.