Patient characteristics in a return to work programme for common mental disorders: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Mental health services research
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Mental health issues increasingly cause work absence.
• Return-to-work (RTW) programs aim to facilitate re-employment.
• Controversy exists regarding prioritization of RTW patients over those with severe diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patients in RTW outpatient clinics with those in regular outpatient mental health care.
• To identify differences in patient characteristics, treatment history, and mental health status.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study of 270 RTW clinic patients and 86 regular clinic patients.
• Utilized ANOVA, chi-square tests, and logistic regression for analysis.
• Assessed patient characteristics, treatment history, and mental health status.

Main Results:

• RTW patients reported lower symptom scores (CORE-OM) but no difference in quality of life.
• RTW patients were older, more likely to have partners and children, and had higher incomes.
• Work participation, prior hospitalization, and diagnosis predicted clinic assignment.

Conclusions:

• RTW patients exhibit moderate symptom severity and significant health problems benefiting from specialized care.
• The RTW clinic effectively targets individuals with common mental disorders and work participation goals.
• Many RTW patients have prior primary care treatment, indicating a need for integrated care pathways.