An overlooked concept? Intention to return to work among individuals on sick leave due to common mental disorders: A scoping review

Background. Undetected Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) amongst people on sick leave complicate rehabilitation and return to work because appropriate treatments are not initiated. Aims. The aim of this study is to estimate (1) the frequencies of CMD, (2) the predictors of undetected CMD, and (3) the rate of return to work among sick listed individuals without a psychiatric disorder, who are registered on long-term sickness absence (LSA). Methods. A total of 2,414 incident individuals on LSA with a response rate of 46.4%, were identified for a two-phase study. The subsample of this study involved individuals registered on LSA who were sick-listed without a psychiatric sick leave diagnosis. In this respect, Phase 1 included 831 individuals, who were screened for mental disorders. In Phase 2, following the screening of Phase 1, 227 individuals were thoroughly examined by a psychiatrist applying Present State Examination. The analyses of the study were carried out based on the 227 individuals from Phase 2 and, subsequently, weighted to be representative of the 831 individuals in Phase 1. Results. The frequencies of undetected mental disorders among all sick-listed individuals were for any psychiatric diagnosis 21%, depression 14%, anxiety 4%, and somatoform disorder 6%. Conclusions. Undetected CMD may delay the initiation of appropriate treatment and complicate the rehabilitation and return to work.

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Narratives of Sick Leave, Return to Work and Job Mobility for People with Common Mental Disorders in Sweden

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation ◽

10.1007/s10926-013-9480-7 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 543-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Christian Ståhl ◽

Elinor Edvardsson Stiwne

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Sick Leave ◽

Return To Work ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Job Mobility

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Return to Work After Long-Term Sick Leave: Stories of Employed Women With Common Mental Disorders

International Journal of Disability Management ◽

10.1017/idm.2018.6 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Erika Wall ◽

John Selander

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Sick Leave ◽

Return To Work ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Collective Narratives ◽

Management Perspective ◽

Female Employees ◽

Absence From Work ◽

Open Question

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of female employees on long-term sickness absence due to common mental disorders (CMDs), in relation to what they perceive would best help them to return to work. Data were collected through a survey answered by employees at a municipality in Sweden on long-term sick leave. Results of the current study are based on a part of that material, namely from 56 women with CMDs who responded to the final open question. The analysis involves two steps. Initially, we explored themes that form the accounts in the findings. Secondly, based on the themes, collective narratives, storylines were identified. Three different storylines were found to be prominent in the findings. The storylines describe how the participants collectively expressed themselves in relation to the possibilities for return to work, and the following storylines were derived:It feels like too much, Things are moving too fast,andI have to get out of here!. The findings are related to perceived demands, control and support. From a disability management perspective, we have learned the importance of restoring the balance between demands, control and support — not only to prevent absence from work, but also to facilitate return to work after a period of long-term sickness.

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Facilitators, barriers and ethical values related to the coordination of return-to-work among employees on sick leave due to common mental disorders: a protocol for a qualitative study (the CORE-project)

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032463 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e032463

Author(s):

Elisabeth Björk Brämberg ◽

Lars Sandman ◽

Therese Hellman ◽

Lydia Kwak

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Sick Leave ◽

Return To Work ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Ethical Review ◽

Ethical Values ◽

Wide Range

IntroductionDiagnoses related to common mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders and stress-related disorders are one of the leading causes of long-term sick leave for both women and men in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. To increase the rate of return-to-work workplace involvement in a coordinated return-to-work process has been included in recent best practice guidelines. This form of cooperation is a complex process, involving political structures and a wide range of stakeholders. The study’s first aim is to describe facilitators and barriers to the coordination of return-to-work from the perspectives of: (A) employees on sick leave due to common mental disorders, (B) employers, (C) rehabilitation coordinators, (D) physicians and (E) other stakeholders. The second aim is to identify ethical issues that arise in the coordination of return-to-work and analyse how these can be resolved.Methods and analysisThe study has a qualitative design using interviews with employees on sick leave due to common mental disorders, employers, rehabilitation coordinators, physicians and other stakeholders. The study is conducted in the Swedish primary healthcare. Employees, employers and rehabilitation coordinators are recruited via primary healthcare centres. Rehabilitation coordinators receive information about the study and those who consent to participation are asked to recruit employees and employers. Interview guides have been developed from the consolidated framework for implementation research and ethical values and norms found in Swedish healthcare, social services and workplace legislation. Data will be analysed with qualitative content analysis reflecting manifest and latent content, and ethical issues will be analysed by means of reflective equilibrium methodology.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm, Sweden (Reg.no 2018/677-31/2 and 2018/2119–32). The findings will be disseminated through publication in scientific journals, social media, seminars and national and international conferences.

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