Return-to-work support program outcomes for people on leave due to mood and stress-related disorders

Mood disorders and stress-related disorders are the two leading causes of long-term employee absenteeism and cause significant social losses. Therefore, strengthening the support systems is essential to help employees return to work.

This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of a return to work (RTW) rehabilitation program and to explore factors associated with RTW and continued employment.

A five-times-a-week RTW intervention was implemented for three to four months for people on leave who had been diagnosed with a mood or stress-related disorder. RTW rates within one year of completing the program and RTW retention rates one year after returning to work were examined to explore factors associated with RTW and employment retention.

Of the 47 participants, 41 completed the RTW intervention, 35 returned to work (85.4%) within one year after the intervention, and 29 were still working one-year post their RTW (82.9%). The non-RTW group had a lower attendance rate for the program and showed an increase in anxious temperament. Additionally, compared to the RTW group, the non-RTW group showed significantly lower interpersonal relationship scores and decreased finger dexterity in the post-program evaluation, which may be associated with difficulties in returning to work. There was little improvement in cognitive function in the RTW non-continuation group, with a disrupted rhythm of life, depression, panic, and non-assertive self-expression.

The RTW intervention demonstrated effectiveness for treating patients with mood and stress-related disorders. Future studies should investigate comparative trials with a control group while also increasing the sample size.