Predictors of long-term return to work and symptom remission in sick-listed patients with major depression.

OBJECTIVE

Although major depressive disorder (MDD) has substantial negative effects on work outcomes, little is known regarding how to promote a return to work (RTW) after MDD-related sickness absence. The present study aimed to examine predictors across multiple domains for long-term RTW in patients who are sick-listed because of their MDD, and to compare these with predictors for long-term symptom remission.

METHOD: Participants (n = 117) were diagnosed with MDD according to DSM-IV criteria, absent from work for at least 25% of their contract hours, and referred by occupational physicians to outpatient treatment. Long-term full RTW (working the full number of contract hours for at least 4 weeks) and long-term symptom remission (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ≤ 7) were examined during the 18-month follow-up. Potential predictors (diagnostic, sociodemographic, personality, and work-related) were assessed at baseline. Data were collected from December 2007 to March 2011.

RESULTS

Stepwise logistic regression analyses with backward elimination (P ≤ .05) resulted in a final prediction model including depression severity (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97; P = .003), comorbid anxiety (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.84; P = .028), work motivation (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.18-2.96; P = .008), and conscientiousness (OR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.18; P = .012) as predictors of long-term RTW. Long-term symptom remission was only predicted by depression severity (OR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98; P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas long-term symptom remission is only predicted by diagnostic factors, long-term RTW is also predicted by personal and work-related factors. These findings provide suggestions for the development of new interventions to improve both symptom remission and long-term RTW in sick-listed patients with MDD.