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Attribution of mental illness to work: a Delphi study
M G P Wong1, C J M Poole2, R Agius3
1NATS OHS Mailbox 34, Sopwith Way, Swanwick Centre, Southampton SO31 7AY, UK, marcus.wong@nats.co.uk.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|May 17, 2015
Summary
Attributing mental ill-health to work is complex. Experts identified 11 workplace stressors and 7 personal factors, emphasizing occupational physician consultation for accurate assessment.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
Background:
- Clinicians lack guidance on attributing mental ill-health to work.
- Assessing work-related mental illness requires a structured approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish consensus on factors for attributing mental ill-health to work.
- To define methods for assessing work-related mental illness.
Main Methods:
- A three-round Delphi study with 35 experts (academics, occupational physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists).
- Consensus defined as 66% or more expert agreement.
Main Results:
- Consensus reached on 11 workplace stressors (e.g., job strain, trauma, conflict) and 7 personal vulnerability factors (e.g., prior illness, neuroticism).
- Worker, manager, and co-worker input identified as crucial.
- A definition for occupational mental illness was agreed upon, but not a work-relatedness threshold.
Conclusions:
- Attributing mental ill-health to work is multifaceted, involving workplace stressors and personal vulnerabilities.
- Consultation with an occupational physician knowledgeable about the workplace is key.
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