Remote Work Accommodations for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Evidence Supporting Remote Work Accommodation

Telemental health has been particularly robust in adoption because mental healthcare commonly does not rely on physical examination of patients, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense 1
Behavioral and mental health concerns are particularly amenable to virtual care, with telehealth increasingly used to meet these patients' needs, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2
The Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines note that for patients who are underserved or homebound, telemedicine may be the best way to provide mental health services 3

When implementing remote work accommodations for SAD, documentation should include patient consent to telehealth arrangements, method of remote work monitoring and communication, and specific accommodations being provided, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 4
A hybrid approach combining remote work during peak SAD periods with in-office work during remission periods may be optimal for some patients, according to the American College of Physicians 3

Face-to-face interventions were found to be more efficacious than virtual meetings for some behavioral interventions (level 1 evidence), though more recent reviews suggest telemedicine can be at least equivalent for many mental health services, as reported by the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 5
Not all work environments or job duties are compatible with remote work arrangements, as noted by the American Gastroenterological Association 4

Regular follow-up should be conducted to assess effectiveness of the accommodation and adjust as needed, according to the American College of Physicians 3