Major Depressive Disorder in Shift / night workers

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established specifically for MDD
Is it more common among shift / night workers? Higher depression risk
Are shift / night workers at higher risk? Yes
How much higher is the risk? 43% more likely for depression
How often can it be missed? High; symptoms can be attributed to shift-related sleep disruption
Does it show up differently among shift / night workers? Not clearly
How might it look different? Fatigue and sleep disturbance can obscure mood symptoms
What commonly occurs alongside it? Sleep disorders; anxiety
What can it be confused with? Shift-work sleep disorder; sleep deprivation
Common screening tool PHQ-9
Separate screening tool for shift / night workers None
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