The psychiatric patient at work

Abstract

Psychiatric consultations and job performance of 135 IBM employees were studied. Psychiatric referrals were made by management and the company medical department or were self-referred. The consulting psychiatrist conducted interviews, met with management, personnel representatives and other physicians to coordinate treatment with job requirements. Every effort was made to retain employees and improve performance. After a two-three year follow-up period, 82 employees (61.7 per cent) were with the company; ten were rated outstanding, 38 exceeded job requirements, 25 were meeting job requirements, and four were not. Performance data for five employees were not available. Forty-nine of 83 employees (59.0 per cent) rated unsatisfactory in job performance at the initial referral were performing satisfactorily at follow-up. The results support an optimistic attitude toward the working patient with psychiatric disease and highlight the value of a full-time medical department with consultation facilities leading to secondary and tertiary prevention.