Assessment and Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders in the Workplace

Given the high prevalence of mental health problems among working adults, efforts to increase mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention are being increasingly directed toward the workplace. Research clearly shows that the earlier mental health issues are identified and treated, the sooner improvements in work functioning tend to occur. While employee assistance programs (EAPs) have proliferated over the last few decades and effective evidence-based treatments for most mental health conditions are known and often available, EAPs do not typically provide mental illness prevention or assistance for employees who are already struggling with a mental illness. This means many employees do not receive the treatment they need. This may result in social, personal, and economic problems for these employees, their employers, and society in general. First, this chapter addresses the various burdens of mental illness in the workplace, with a special focus on mood and anxiety disorders. Next, the authors discuss assessment and screening strategies and existing interventions and treatment methods. Finally, this chapter describes different aspects of workplace accommodations that are designed to help individuals with a mental health problem return to the workforce, as well as potential gaps in the knowledge base for addressing mood and anxiety disorders in the workplace.