Which Depressive Symptoms and Medication Side Effects Are Perceived by Patients as Interfering Most with Occupational Functioning?
Table 2
Summary of responses () from questionnaire relating symptoms to interference with work functioning.
Symptom
% of sample experiencing symptom
Mean score
SD
Clinically important interference1 (%)
Lack of motivation
93
1.78
0.91
59
Low energy
96
1.72
0.87
58
Low mood
98
1.68
0.88
55
Feeling physically slowed down
94
1.50
0.92
52
Anxious/tense/ nervous
96
1.55
0.90
50
Trouble concentrating
96
1.48
0.80
45
Sleepy during the day
88
1.31
0.85
40
Trouble with memory
93
1.31
0.77
39
Trouble sleeping at night
84
1.30
0.93
39
Feeling guilty/ashamed
88
1.24
0.97
38
Irritability/anger
91
1.26
0.91
36
Physical pain
76
1.18
1.10
35
Sleeping too much
80
1.26
1.00
31
Poor appetite
69
0.95
0.97
28
Suicidal thoughts
66
0.79
0.92
19
1 Defined as a response of “Very much” or “So much that I had to stop working” to the following question: “In the past week, how have the following symptoms interfered with your ability to work?” SD: standard deviation.
