Mental health: Professional rehabilitation and the return to work - A systematic review

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Selma Lancman ◽  
Bárbara Iansã de Lima Barroso
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Women Workers ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Return Method

BACKGROUND: The problem of illnesses, sick leave and the necessary return to work and permanence at work has been determining the development of different protocols and professional rehabilitation programs in different countries. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify articles that address programs for professional rehabilitation and the return to work of people laid off due to mental health problems, and to verify the results of professional rehabilitation programs and the follow-up processes for such return. METHOD: A systematic review was performed according to the criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA). The serial search of the articles was carried out in the electronic databases: Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus. The variations in the descriptors served to find a greater range of significant results for the research. RESULTS: In total, 2,306 articles were found. Another two articles that met the inclusion criteria were located through manual searches, adding up to a total of 2,308. Applying the exclusion criteria resulted in a final data set of 47 peer-reviewed articles. CONCLUSIONS: The issues involving return to work and permanence in work were complex and multifaceted in the research articles studied. Recovery from Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) is a major cause of long-term sick leave and the granting of disability benefits. Many people with these diagnoses remain employed; however, further studies are needed with women, workers with fragile relationships, and immigrants.

scholarly journals Comparing two interdisciplinary occupational rehabilitation programs for employees on sick leave: a mixed-method design study protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Eftedal ◽  
Torill H. Tveito ◽  
Ulrik Gensby ◽  
M. Kamrul Islam ◽  
Stein Atle Lie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Interdisciplinary Teams ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and common mental disorders (CMDs) are the most frequent reasons for long-term sick leave and work disability. Occupational rehabilitation programs are used to help employees return to work (RTW). However, knowledge regarding the effect of these programs is scarce, and even less is known about which programs are best suited for which patients. This study aims to compare the RTW results of two interdisciplinary occupational rehabilitation programs in Norway, as well as to examine the delivery and reception of the two programs and explore the active mechanisms of the participants’ RTW processes. Methods/design We will use a mixed-method convergent design to study the main outcome. Approximately 600 participants will be included in the study. Eligible study participants will be aged 18–60 years old and have been on sick leave due to MSDs, CMDs, or both for at least 6 weeks. Interdisciplinary teams at both participating clinics will deliver complex occupational rehabilitation programs. The inpatient rehabilitation program has a duration of 4 weeks and is full time. The outpatient program has a duration of 3 months and involves weekly sessions. The primary outcome is RTW. Secondary outcomes are differences in the incremental cost for an averted sick leave day, cost utility/benefit, and differences between the programs regarding improvements in known modifiable obstacles to RTW. Subgroup analyses are planned. The researchers will be blinded to the intervention groups when analyzing the quantitative RTW data. Discussion This study aims to provide new insights regarding occupational rehabilitation interventions, treatment targets, and outcomes for different subgroups of sick-listed employees and to inform discussions on the active working mechanisms of occupational rehabilitation and the influence of context in the return-to-work process. Trial registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN12033424, 15.10.2014, retrospectively registered.

scholarly journals Sickness certification for common mental disorders and GP return-to-work advice

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (05) ◽  
pp. 437-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Gabbay ◽  
Chris Shiels ◽  
Jim Hillage
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Sickness Certification ◽  
Mental Health Diagnoses ◽  
To Receive

AimTo report the types and duration of sickness certification for different common mental disorders (CMDs) and the prevalence of GP advice aimed at returning the patient to work.BackgroundIn the United Kingdom, common mental health problems, such and depression and stress, have become the main reasons for patients requesting a sickness certificate to abstain from usual employment. Increasing attention is being paid to mental health and its impact on employability and work capacity in all parts of the welfare system. However, relatively little is known about the extent to which different mental health diagnoses impact upon sickness certification outcomes, and how the GP has used the new fit note (introduced in 2010) to support a return to work for patients with mental health diagnoses.MethodsSickness certification data was collected from 68 UK-based general practices for a period of 12 months.FindingsThe study found a large part of all sickness absence certified by GPs was due to CMDs (29% of all sickness absence episodes). Females, younger patients and those living in deprived areas were more likely to receive a fit note for a CMD (compared with one for a physical health problem). The highest proportion of CMD fit notes were issued for ‘stress’. However, sickness certification for depression contributed nearly half of all weeks certified for mental health problems. Only 7% of CMD fit notes included any ‘may be fit’ advice from the GP, with type of advice varying by mental health diagnostic category. Patients living in the most socially deprived neighbourhoods were less likely to receive ‘may be fit’ advice on their CMD fit notes.

scholarly journals Role of a Digital Return-To-Work Solution for Individuals With Common Mental Disorders: Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Three Stakeholder Groups (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Engdahl ◽  
Petra Svedberg ◽  
Annika Lexén ◽  
Ulrika Bejerholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Service User ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Stakeholder Groups

BACKGROUND Although effective return-to-work (RTW) interventions are not widely available for individuals with common mental disorders on sick leave, there is potential for transforming such interventions into a digital solution in an effort to make them more widely available. However, little is currently known about the viewpoints of different stakeholder groups, which are critical for successful development and implementation of a digital RTW intervention in health care services. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine stakeholder groups’ perspectives on the role and legitimacy of a digital RTW solution called mWorks for individuals with common mental disorders who are on sick leave. METHODS A purposeful snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit respondents. Semistructured individual and focus group interviews were conducted for stakeholder groups of service users, RTW professionals, and influential managers regarding their experiences, needs, and preferences for mWorks. Content analysis generated themes and categories that constituted the main findings. RESULTS The legitimacy of a digital RTW solution was high among all stakeholder groups since such a tool was perceived to enable service users to take control over their RTW process. This was mainly a product of accessible support and promotion of service user decision making, which had the potential to empower service users. All respondents stressed the importance of fostering a positive user experience with usability and emphasis on service user resources and strengths, as opposed to various limitations and shortcomings. Stakeholder groups highlighted critical content to facilitate RTW, such as the need to clarify a back-to-work plan, accompanied by an accessible RTW network and strategies for handling mental health problems. Implementation challenges primarily involved influential managers’ concern of legislation incompatibility with innovative technology, and RTW professionals’ concern of the possibility that digital solutions may replace them to a certain extent. CONCLUSIONS This formative research emphasizes the importance of shifting power from RTW professionals to service users. mWorks can play a role in mediating service user control over the RTW process, and thereby increase their empowerment. A digital RTW solution may facilitate the circumvention of implementation barriers associated with introducing evidence-based RTW interventions in a traditional RTW context.

scholarly journals Role of a Digital Return-To-Work Solution for Individuals With Common Mental Disorders: Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Three Stakeholder Groups

10.2196/15625 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. e15625
Author(s):  
Patrik Engdahl ◽  
Petra Svedberg ◽  
Annika Lexén ◽  
Ulrika Bejerholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Service User ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Stakeholder Groups

Background Although effective return-to-work (RTW) interventions are not widely available for individuals with common mental disorders on sick leave, there is potential for transforming such interventions into a digital solution in an effort to make them more widely available. However, little is currently known about the viewpoints of different stakeholder groups, which are critical for successful development and implementation of a digital RTW intervention in health care services. Objective The aim of this study was to examine stakeholder groups’ perspectives on the role and legitimacy of a digital RTW solution called mWorks for individuals with common mental disorders who are on sick leave. Methods A purposeful snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit respondents. Semistructured individual and focus group interviews were conducted for stakeholder groups of service users, RTW professionals, and influential managers regarding their experiences, needs, and preferences for mWorks. Content analysis generated themes and categories that constituted the main findings. Results The legitimacy of a digital RTW solution was high among all stakeholder groups since such a tool was perceived to enable service users to take control over their RTW process. This was mainly a product of accessible support and promotion of service user decision making, which had the potential to empower service users. All respondents stressed the importance of fostering a positive user experience with usability and emphasis on service user resources and strengths, as opposed to various limitations and shortcomings. Stakeholder groups highlighted critical content to facilitate RTW, such as the need to clarify a back-to-work plan, accompanied by an accessible RTW network and strategies for handling mental health problems. Implementation challenges primarily involved influential managers’ concern of legislation incompatibility with innovative technology, and RTW professionals’ concern of the possibility that digital solutions may replace them to a certain extent. Conclusions This formative research emphasizes the importance of shifting power from RTW professionals to service users. mWorks can play a role in mediating service user control over the RTW process, and thereby increase their empowerment. A digital RTW solution may facilitate the circumvention of implementation barriers associated with introducing evidence-based RTW interventions in a traditional RTW context.

scholarly journals Identifying return to work trajectories among employees on sick leave due to mental health problems using latent class transition analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e032016
Author(s):  
Maitta Spronken ◽  
Evelien P M Brouwers ◽  
Jeroen K Vermunt ◽  
Iris Arends ◽  
Wido G M Oerlemans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Large Individual ◽  
Work Characteristics ◽  
Transition Analysis

ObjectivesTo develop effective return to work (RTW) interventions for employees on sick leave due to mental health problems (MHPs), a better understanding of individual variation in the RTW process is needed. We investigated which RTW trajectories can be identified among employees with MHPs in terms of RTW duration and relapse occurrence during the RTW process. Additionally, we examined how different RTW trajectories can be described in terms of personal and work characteristics.MethodsLongitudinal sickness absence registry data were collected retrospectively from the largest Dutch occupational health service. Quantitative RTW information as well as personal and work characteristics were extracted. In total, 9517 employees with a sickness absence due to MHPs were included in the analyses (62 938 data points; RTW durations from 29 to 730 days).ResultsA latent class transition analysis revealed five distinct RTW trajectories, namely (1) fast RTW with little chance of relapse, (2) slow RTW with little chance of relapse, (3) fast RTW with considerable chance of relapse, (4) slow RTW with considerable chance of relapse and (5) very fast RTW with very small chance of relapse. Differences between employees in the slower and faster trajectories were observed regarding gender, age, type of MHP, organisation sector and organisation size but not regarding part-time work.ConclusionsRTW trajectories among employees with MHPs showed large individual variability and differed on personal and work characteristics. Knowledge on different RTW trajectories and their characteristics contributes to the development of personalised RTW treatments, tailored to specific individuals and organisations.

Integrating Mental Health care and Vocational Rehabilitation to Improve Return to work rates for People on Sick Leave Because of Common Mental Disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s787-s787
Author(s):  
A. Hoff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Treatment As Usual

IntroductionSick leave due to common mental disorders (CMD) has major negative influence on society because of the lost productivity, social benefits, and treatment costs, and OECD estimates that the cost is equivalent to 3.4% of the Danish gross domestic product.ObjectivesThe Objective is to examine, whether integrating mental health care with vocational rehabilitation, conveys shorter return to work (RTW) time, compared to treatment as usual, after sick leave due to a CMD such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.AimsThe aims of the intervention of are to provide the shortest possible RTW time. Primary outcome is RTW time, and secondary outcomes are (a) time from RTW until recurrent sick leave and (b) symptom level a six months.MethodsPatients are included in one of two randomized controlled studies (anxiety or depression in one RCT, and stress-related disorders in another RCT), after referral from the municipality vocational rehabilitation (VR) center, after sick leave for at least four weeks. Patients, in both trials, are randomized into one of three groups, in a ratio of 1:1:1: (a) control group, where they receive treatment as usual in primary care and municipally located VR, (b) intervention group: mental health care (MHC) in the research project, and municipally located VR (not integrated), and (c) intervention group: MHC in the research project, integrated with a special project VR.ResultsWe are currently including, and as of December 2016, more than 300 are included. The total sample will be 1536 patients.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Interventions for enhancing return to work in individuals with a common mental illness: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (16) ◽  
pp. 3263-3274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. T. Nigatu ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
M. Uppal ◽  
S. McKinney ◽  
S. Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Common mental disorders (CMDs) are highly prevalent in the working population, and are associated with long-term sickness absence and disability. Workers on sick leave with CMDs would benefit from interventions that enable them to successfully return to work (RTW). However, the effectiveness of RTW interventions for workers with a CMD is not well studied. The objective of this review is to assess the effectiveness of existing workplace and clinical interventions that were aimed at enhancing RTW. A systematic review of studies of interventions for improving RTW in workers with a CMD was conducted. The main outcomes were proportion of RTW and sick-leave duration until RTW. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from Medline/PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SocINDEX, and Human resource and management databases from January 1995 to 2016. Two authors independently selected studies, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We pooled studies that we deemed sufficiently homogeneous in different comparison groups and assessed the overall quality of the evidence. We reviewed 2347 abstracts from which 136 full-text articles were reviewed and 16 RCTs were included in the analysis. Combined results from these studies suggested that the available interventions did not lead to improved RTW rates over the control group [pooled risk ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97–1.12], but reduced the number of sick-leave days in the intervention group compared to the control group, with a mean difference of −13.38 days (95% CI −24.07 to −2.69).

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