Guideline-based care of common mental disorders by occupational physicians (CO-OP study): a randomized controlled trial.

• Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of guideline-based care (GBC) of workers with mental health problems, which promotes counseling by the occupational physician (OP) facilitating return to work (RTW). METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial with police workers on sick leave due to mental health problems (n = 240), trained OPs delivered GBC in the intervention group. Time to RTW and recurrences during 1-year follow-up, analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, were compared with usual care (UC) with easy access to a psychologist. RESULTS: GBC by OPs did not result in earlier RTW than UC. Subgroup analysis showed a small effect in favor of GBC for workers with administrative functions and/or "minor" stress-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: GBC did not differ in RTW compared with UC, but may be beneficial for the majority of workers with minor stress-related disorders.
• Authors: D S Rebergen, D J Bruinvels, P D Bezemer, A J van der Beek, W van Mechelen (Affiliation: Departments of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.)
• Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (J Occup Environ Med) Vol. 51 Issue 3 Pg. 305-12 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 1536-5948 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19225417 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mental Disorders (therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Netherlands
• Occupational Health
• Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
• Police
• Practice Guidelines as Topic
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Psychology
• Sick Leave