A Systematic Review of the Factors which Predict Return to Work for People Suffering Episodes of Poor Mental Health

Abstract

Introduction Poor mental health is responsible for a large percentage of long term work absence, and only 50% of those who are off work for 6 months or more return to work. Method We aimed to describe the factors which predict or restrict return to work for people suffering episodes of poor mental health. A literature review was conducted to identify all papers relating to long term mental illness absence. Results Fourteen papers of varying methodological quality considered mental health in relation to psychiatric morbidity, depression, stress, and body weight. Successful return to work is predicted by factors related to work, family history, health risk behaviours, social status, and medical condition. Conclusions This study identifies a range of factors which are important in preventing return to work for people with mental health conditions. The factors affecting RTW after a period of sickness absence due to poor mental health are wide ranging and in some cases studies have produced opposing results (particularly in the case of demographic factors). Further research is required to describe the factors which delay return to work for people experiencing episodes of poor mental health.

Predicting the Effectiveness of Work-Focused CBT for Common Mental Disorders: The Influence of Baseline Self-Efficacy, Depression and Anxiety

“…In general, more severe mental health complaints are predictive of less favourable RTW outcomes (see for a review [15]). Moreover, several studies have identified symptom severity as a significant predictor for less favourable mental health outcomes of CBT.…”

“…We assume that this would be particularly true for W-CBT techniques, whereby individuals are stimulated to focus on work and (partial) RTW. Individuals with high baseline anxiety and depressive complaints generally experience a less favourable RTW process [15]. Individuals may also fear that early RTW would be hampered by, or may even aggravate, their mental health symptoms [12,31].…”

“…RTW self-efficacy is an overarching construct that relates to the multifactorial nature of RTW, taking into account both mental health symptoms and the work context, which is not only useful for understanding and facilitating the RTW process [13], but may also predict who will benefit most from interventions that aim to enhance RTW [14]. In a similar vein, individuals' level of mental health symptoms might be a relevant predictor for treatment success [15]. The insights from this study may help identify clients who are most likely to benefit from W-CBT and R-CBT, match clients with the most appropriate intervention, and adapt interventions to clients' individual needs.…”

As interações entre os atores no retorno ao trabalho após afastamento por transtorno mental: uma metaetnografia

“…Blank et al 1 have shown that between 1985-2005 in North America and England, only 50% of those who took leave of absence from work due to mental disorders for more than six months returned to work.…”

“…To understand the complexity of this problem, some authors have studied predictors of return to work, which include different sorts: personal, environmental, organizational and relational 1 . Based on the latter, Nielsen et al 2 (p. 807) presented the "expectations about the return to work" as a return to work predictor.…”