A Problem Solving Based Intervention for Facilitating Return-to-work Among People Suffering From Common Mental Disorders

Problem solving based intervention involving the workplace has shown promising effects on return-to-work among persons with common mental disorders. A key element is cooperation between the person on sick leave, the participant's employer and health care professionals. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of a problem solving based intervention in the Swedish primary health care system on an employed population on sick leave due to common mental disorders. Cluster randomized controlled trial. The investigators hypothesize that:

Participants who have undergone the work-related problem solving based intervention will have fewer total days on sick leave than the participants who receive treatment as usual at 18 months.

Participants who receive the work-related problem solving based intervention will have fewer recurrent periods of sick leave than the participants who receive treatment as usual at 18 months.

Participants who receive the work-related problem solving therapy intervention will score better on the secondary outcomes than the participants in the control group.

Population: Employed, aged 18 - 59, on short-term sick leave (min. 2 - max. 12 weeks) due to common mental disorders.

Intervention: Work-related problem solving based intervention in addition to treatment as usual. The intervention will be given by rehabilitation coordinators on max. five occasions and includes: making an inventory of problems and/or opportunities related to return-to-work; identifying the support needed to implement the solutions; a meeting with the person on sick leave, his/her employer and the rehabilitation coordinator to discuss solutions; making an action plan and evaluation.

Control: The control group will receive care as usual (i.e. cognitive behavioral therapy and/or medical treatment, and meeting with a rehabilitation coordinator if this is a part of care as usual at the primary health care centre). A total of 220 persons on sick leave and 30 rehabilitation coordinators will be included.

Primary outcome: total number of days on sick leave at 18 months after baseline. A parallel process evaluation will be conducted to examine: to what extent it is possible to implement problem-solving therapy according to the protocol; the relationship between the key elements of problem-solving intervention and the effect outcome; how the participants perceive the intervention.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* employed women and men aged 18-59, short-term sick leave (i.e. a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks) due to mild to moderate depression, anxiety or adjustment disorder (F 32, F 41, F 43) as the primary reason for sick leave, diagnosed by a general practitioner (GP) or physician according to the Swedish version of international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems - tenth revision (ICD-10) contact with a GP or physician at a primary health care center in the vestra gotaland region.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe depression, other severe mental disorders, i.e. psychotic or bipolar disorders; pregnancy, somatic complaints or disorders that will influence work ability; not able to read, write and understand Swedish.