Table 1 Characteristics of 16 follow-up studies included in a review of risk of depression according to psychosocial factors in the workplace
Design and logistics
    Sample size (n), median (range)*3370 (367–11 552)
    Proportion of baseline participants who provided83% (37–100%)
    follow-up data, median (range)
    Follow-up period (years), median (range)2.5 (1–13)
Data collection and quality assurance
    Diagnosis by diagnostic manual or specialist in7 Studies19 20
    psychology or psychiatry22 23 25 27 29
        Self-administered questionnaire7 Studies14–16 18 23 26 28
    Ascertainment of outcome
        Telephone interview4 Studies21 22 24 27
        Face-to-face interview4 Studies17 19 20 29
        Clinical case1 Study25
    Multi-item measures of psychosocial factorsAll except for 4 studies17 23 27 28
    Partly or entirely independent assessment of2 Studies23 25
    exposure
    Complete reporting of risk estimates9 Studies14 16 18
    regardless of statistical significance20 21 23 25 26 29
Data analysis
    Exclusion of baseline casesAll except for 4 studies17–19 24
    Analyses of first- and later-onset depressive9 Studies15 16 18 2022
    episodes24 25 27
    Adjustment for
        Demographic covariates (age, gender,All except for 1
        education, socio-economic class, study15
        employment status, marital status)
        Life events and domestic stressors6 Studies14 16 18 23 27 29
        Family history of depression3 Studies23 24 27
        Earlier depressive episodes2 Studies18 23
        Chronic disease or disability1 Study20
        Personality traits3 Studies14 17 23
    Analyses of
        Exposure–response relationships5 Studies21 22 24 26 29
        (intensity and duration of exposure)
        Exposure–effect relationships2 Studies27 29
        Exposure-time outcome-onset specificity1 Study25
  • *A nation-wide study with >100 000 persons not included in descriptive statistics.25