Associations Between Substance Use, Depression, and Work Outcomes: An Evaluation Study of Screening and Brief Intervention in a Large Employee Assistance Program

Abstract

This study examined associations between behavioral health and workplace outcomes for 1,989 state employees served by a large Employee Assistance Program (EAP) over 19 months. Screening and brief intervention was used to identify and intervene for risky substance use and depression at intake. Employees completed psychometrically sound self-report measures of workplace functioning. About 80% of EAP clients screened positive for depression. There was a strong association between depression and impaired workplace productivity. About 90 days after intake, 438 employees (22.0%) participated in a follow-up interview. Analyses of intake to follow-up indicated significant improvements in depression and workplace productivity, translating to substantial cost savings.

KEYWORDS:

• depression
• eap
• sbirt
• substance use
• workplace productivity

Notes

Note. 24 cases had missing values for one or more of the brief screen variables.

Note. Depression, alcohol, and drug use were coded 1 = a positive screen and 0 = a negative screen.

**p < 0.01.

Note. Time was coded 0=intake and 1=follow-up. Depression, alcohol, and drug use were coded 1=a positive screen and 0=a negative screen.

*p<0.05. **p<0.01.

Items were adapted slightly to include difficulties due to personal or work problems.

A small number of individuals who had a negative brief screen for a behavioral health issue were administered the full assessment based on the judgment of the EA Professional (e.g., had a negative alcohol brief screen and were administered the AUDIT).

Wage and benefits information was not available for two departments, so the mean wage across all state departments was used for the employees in those two departments.