[Experiences from a stress clinic. A pilot study]

The aim of the study was to develop a multi-disciplinary stress management program for employees with long-term stress.

In a two-year period, 66 people active in the labour market were referred to the stress clinic at an occupational medicine clinic. All but 10 went through the program for four months and were further evaluated after one year regarding employment, symptoms and salivary cortisol. The program consisted of 1) an evaluation of symptoms of depression and stress, 2) stress management consultations, 3) introduction to relaxation techniques and physical exercise and 4) in some cases contact to the work place for adjustments or referral to psychiatric evaluation. Physiological measures such as maximal oxygen uptake, blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL, TSH, HbA1C, fasting glucose and fibrinogen were carried out at baseline and after four months. Salivary cortisol was measured at baseline, after four months and one year. As a control group 24 people with similar symptoms referred to the Clinic of Occupational Medicine were used.

A significantly larger number of people in the study group (82%) than in the control group (42%) were employed after one year. There was no difference between the two groups regarding the prevalence of stress symptoms during the follow-up period, even though the prevalence decreased significantly. However, the prevalence of depression was significantly lower after one year in the study group (4%) compared to the control group (40%). Maximum oxygen uptake increased and fibrinogen decreased significantly in four months. The rise in salivary cortisol from awakening until 30 minutes later increased significantly during one year and correlated with symptoms of depression.