Relationship Between Psychiatric Diagnosis and Impaired Work Function

Full Article at: Psychiatric Status and Work Performance of Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between psychiatric diagnosis and impaired work functioning among American service members returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom-Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF-OIF).


Conclusions: Veterans' ability to maintain gainful employment is a major component of successful reintegration into civilian life, and psychiatric disorders have a negative impact on work performance. This study demonstrated that multiple dimensions of job performance are impaired by psychiatric illness among OEF-OIF veterans. Delivery of empirically supported interventions to treat psychiatric disorders and development of care models that focus on work-specific interventions are needed to help veterans return to civilian life. (Psychiatric Services 62:39–46, 2011)