Bipolar disorder associated with high absence-related costs
Lost time, absence costs, and reduced productivity output for employees with bipolar disorder. Kleinman NL, Brook RA, Rajagopalan K, Gardner HH, Brizee TJ, Smeeding JE. J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 47: 1117-1124.
Aim
To analyse the impact of bipolar disorder (BPD, often referred to as manic depression) on lost work time (absenteeism) and at-work productivity.
Looked at
230,000 employees from a large US-based insurance claims database.
How?
Diagnosis and treatment data, and health-related absence and real productivity information from employees with BPD were compared with those from employees without BPD.
Results
-
Over the period of a year, employees with BPD had significantly lower work productivity than the other groups, a 20-22% productivity decrement.
Group
Absenteeism days per
employee per year
Total absence-related
costs (US$)
Employees with BPD, diagnosed in 2001
18.9
1,995
Employees without a BPD diagnosis in 2001 or 2002
7.4
885
Employees with mental health diagnosis in 2001 other than BPD
12.2
1,318
Employees without BPD or mental health diagnosis in 2001 or 2002
6.1
776
What does this mean?
A diagnosis of BPD is strongly associated with raised costs for absenteeism and resulting loss of productivity.