Depression and Work Absence or Job Loss in Organizations

Abstract

Recognized as one of the leading global causes of disability, depression broadly impairs emotional functioning, interpersonal relationships, and occupational performance, making it a phenomenon of increasing relevance within organizational contexts. Despite the growing body of scientific inquiry into the subject, integrative reviews that systematically address its multidimensional effects on working life remain scarce. Against this backdrop, the present study aimed to critically and comprehensively examine the psychosocial impacts of depression on job loss, productivity, and occupational reintegration processes across diverse work environments. To this end, the six-stage integrative review protocol proposed by Mendes, Silveira, and Galvão (2008) was adopted, with searches conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, SciELO, and Google Scholar, covering the period from February 2025 to January 2026. A total of 95 studies published between 2015 and 2025 were selected and subjected to quantitative descriptive analysis, qualitative thematic analysis, and the TF-IDF technique, enabling the identification of substantial convergences around cognitive symptoms, presenteeism, institutional stigma, and deficiencies in reintegration policies — evidence organized into eight thematic axes, with a notable increase in scientific output from 2020 onward. The findings indicate that addressing depression in the workplace requires integrated approaches that combine clinical management, psychosocial support, and occupational risk management, with intersectional and longitudinal studies representing a priority to bridge the gaps that persist in the existing literature.