[An exploration of the association between disability pension and psychiatric diseases]

The necessity to establish disability and invalidity pensions due to psychiatric diseases has become more and more demanding in recent years. So far there is little knowledge about the aetiology and socio-demographic aspects of this phenomenon.

The presented explorative analyses included 94 examinations (43 women, 51 men) to address, if a person should be medically certified as partly or permanently unfit for work. The data, including psychiatric diagnosis and socio-demographic data were obtained between 1999 and 2006 in a German specialised psychiatric university unit.

The diagnoses of neurotic diseases, stress related and somatoform disorders (ICD-10 F 40 - 48) were the most prevalent group (48 %) within the sample. It was a statistically significant predictive factor in a later declaration of disability and invalidity. In this diagnosis group (F 40 - 48) more participants were female when compared to other diagnosis groups. In general, participants were more likely to be divorced and have a lower education level when compared to the general population. However, the mean level of intelligence was similar to the general population.

The results of the presented study could be beneficial for a better understanding of the association between disability pensions and psychiatric diseases. The increase of neurotic diseases, stress related and somatoform disorders may justify the development of targeted prevention strategies.