Improving Outcomes for Work-Related Concussions: A Mental Health Screening and Brief Therapy Model

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Mild head injuries often lead to prolonged work absence.
• Psychological factors and sleep disturbances can impede recovery and return-to-work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a neurocognitive screening and brief therapy model for improving return-to-work (RTW) outcomes.
• To assess the efficacy of this model in workers with mild head injuries.

Main Methods:

• Workers underwent neurocognitive and psychological screening.
• Work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy was administered, addressing emotional adjustment and sleep.
• The intervention aimed to facilitate return to work.

Main Results:

• Average time to RTW was 7 weeks post-evaluation.
• Workers were off work for an average of 10 months prior to referral.
• 99% of workers were cleared for full-duty work without restrictions.

Conclusions:

• A structured, clinically driven program yields favorable RTW outcomes for head-injured workers.
• Recognizing psychological factors is crucial for concussion recovery.
• The model effectively facilitated return to work.