Psychoeducation to Sick-listed Individuals With Mental Health Problems

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In Denmark, it is estimated that 35-45% of all sick leave registered citizens are on sick leave due to psychiatric sufferings. Mental health conditions are of great consequence not only to the sick-listed individual but also to his/her family and to society in general and in socioeconomic terms. The aim of this project is to systematically compare psychoeducation with the various standard offers to sick listed individuals with mental health conditions provided by job centers in four municipalities. Psychoeducation is employed within the psychiatric healthcare system and is defined as a group based treatment by means of educating participants about psychiatric conditions. In the present project, the employed psychoeducation focuses on psyche and work life, and its purpose is to impart knowledge about psychiatric conditions in order to provide the sick listed individuals with qualifications to understand, and, thereby, improve their own situation. Among others, there will be information about the symptoms of various psychiatric conditions, diagnoses, and treatment options. Furthermore, the participants will learn about specific, useful, cognitive tools in regards to the barriers and difficulties they might experience when reentering the work force and leave sickness absence behind. The project is designed as a randomized clinical trial in which the participants are offered either 1) psychoeducation as well as the standard offer to sick listed individuals provided by the municipality in which the individual lives or 2) the participants are offered merely the standard offer to sick listed individuals provided by the municipality. The target group consists of recently sick listed individuals with mental health issues - whether diagnosed or not. The individuals must be inhabitants of the municipalities of Struer, Lemvig, Skive, and Holstebro. The outcome measure is the determined as the duration of the sickness absence, the severity of the psychiatric condition, self-reported health, and 'locus of control´. These outcome measurements are assessed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months.

Official Title
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Psychoeducation to Sick-listed Individuals With Mental Health Problems

Conditions
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Stress, Psychological

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Psychoeducation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: A score of 5 or more on SCL-8AD Exclusion Criteria: Sick listed due to psychiatric symptoms in a period of 3 months or longer in the last year pregnant has a flexible job receive pension not communicating in Danish

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 64 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Regular treatment<br>This group is offered regular treatment from the job center i.e. exercise, mindfulness | |
| Experimental: Psychoeducation<br>6 x 2 hours of psychoeducation | Behavioral: Psychoeducation<br>* 6 x 2 hours of psychoeducation<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| length of sickness absence |  | 6 months after randomization | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Locus of control |  | Baseline, 3 and 6 months after randomization | 
| Self reported health |  | Baseline, 3 and 6 months after randomization | 
| Psychological symptoms |  | Baseline, 3 and 6 months after randomization | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Psychoeducation, Stress, Sickness absence, Psychiatric symptoms, Locus of control, Self reported health