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Predictors of return to work for people on sick leave with common mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Review Article
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To support the return to work following common mental disorders knowing which factors influence the return to work is important. We aimed to identify factors predicting return to work for people on sick leave with disorders like stress, anxiety, and depression.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted regarding return to work at any time point, < 3 months, 3–12 months, and > 12 months of sick leave, respectively, and diagnostic subgroups.

Results

The meta-analyses included 29 studies. Predictors decreasing return to work probability at any time point were higher age, being male, neuroticism and openness, previous sickness absence, and higher symptom scores. Predictors increasing return to work probability were positive return to work expectations, high return to work- and general self-efficacy, conscientiousness, and high workability index. Return to work within < 3 months of sick leave was associated with positive return to work expectations. Return to work after > 12 months was increased by higher education. Higher age was associated with decreased return to work probability after > 12 months. No significant predictors were found in diagnostic subgroups.

Conclusion

Results are overall consistent with earlier reviews. Future studies should focus on specific time points, diagnostic subgroups, and work-related factors.

Prospero registration ID

CRD42018073396.

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Data availability

Data are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Funding

This study is a part of the Danish IBBIS project which was funded by The Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment (STAR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health - CORE, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospitalsvej 15, 2900, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jonas Fisker, Carsten Hjorthøj, Lone Hellström & Lene Falgaard Eplov

  2. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Sara Skriver Mundy & Nicole Gremaud Rosenberg

Authors
  1. Jonas Fisker
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  2. Carsten Hjorthøj
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  3. Lone Hellström
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  4. Sara Skriver Mundy
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  5. Nicole Gremaud Rosenberg
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  6. Lene Falgaard Eplov
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Contributions

All authors have participated in the planning of the review and discussion of the findings, and have critically reviewed and commented on the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript. JF, SSM, and LH have reviewed the literature and conducted the quality assessment of included studies. JF and CH have conducted the analyses. JF drafted the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lone Hellström.

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The funding agency has not influenced neither the development, design, nor interpretation of this study. The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Fisker, J., Hjorthøj, C., Hellström, L. et al. Predictors of return to work for people on sick leave with common mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 95, 1–13 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01827-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01827-3

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