The News Minute | April 8, 2015 | 12:54 pm IST Bengaluru has been ranked second in a list of cities suffering from depression or general anxiety disorder in a recent study on corporate employees by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).The study, which was prepared on “Preventive Healthcare: Impact on Corporate Sector”, found that in the last eight years the rate of emotional problems including depression and anxiety has escalated by 45-50% among corporate employees. This was in comparison to government employees who deal with lesser levels of psychological demand at work. While Delhi topped the list, Bangalore was followed by, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Pune. (Screen shot)A total of 1,250 corporate employees from 150 companies across 18 sectors in the country were surveyed as part of the study. According to the results of the survey, nearly 42.5 percent of the respondents suffered from depression and general anxiety. 48% respondents said that they feel fatigue on regular basis due to general anxiety Nearly 27% respondent said they suffer from regular headache. 38.5% of respondents sleep less than 6 hours a day. 57% of respondents said they 'do not exercise at all'.The other major health problems faced by the sample population are obesity (23%), high blood pressure (9%), diabetes (8%), Spondolysis (5.5%), heart disease (4%), cervical (3.0 %), asthma (2.5 %), slip disk (1 %) and arthritis (1.5 %). The study also states that around 38.5% of corporate employees sleep less than 6 hours a day “due to high stressed levels that arise out of tough targets set for themselves by employers and cause diseases like depression, hypertension, sugar etc.”(Screen shot)Dr. B K Rao, Chairman of ASSOCHAM Health Committee Council, was quoted in an ASSOCHAM report as saying, “Work pressure is a killer these days. Lack of self confidence, unrealistic expectations and a nutrient deficient diet are factors that trigger off the condition too. Biological, psychological and environmental factors play a role too. Both genetic and neurochemical changes have been linked to depression, caused by the underactivity in neurotransmitters, which play an important role in the brain.”The report also states several psychological and physical factors that aid depression including poor lifestyle choices, environmental conditions, Circadian system disruptions like shift work, and medical disorders.