This study aimed to clarify the association between readiness to return to work, cognitive function, and work continuation after returning to work in workers with major depressive disorder. We assessed whether cognitive assessments in THINC-it could be used as intermediate variables to explain the association between The Psychiatric rework readiness scale (PRRS) total score and work continuation one year after returning to work in workers with major depressive disorder. Twenty-four individuals participated. The psychiatric rework readiness scale total score was significantly associated with work continuation one year after return to work (β = 0.197, 95% CI [0.002, 0.391]). PRRS total score and the five-item Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression (PDQ-D5) were also significantly associated (β = 0.072, 95% CI [0.014, 0.130]). However, the indirect effects were not significant for PDQ-D5, Spotter, Symbol Check, Codebreaker, or Trails. Better readiness for return to work in workers with major depressive disorder was associated with a better assessment of the PDQ-D5. Five cognitive assessments as mediating variables did not explain the association between the evaluation of readiness for return to work and work continuation one year later.
