[Temporal disability caused by psychiatric pathology at a health center].
OBJECTIVE
To find the incidence, duration, diagnosis and treatment of time off work for psychiatric reasons.


METHODS
Retrospective, descriptive study.


METHODS
The Dr. Pujol i Capsada Health Centre in Baix Llobregat county, Barcelona.


METHODS
All the records of time off occurring between January 1992 and December 1996 were reviewed. Time off for psychiatric reasons, and its length, follow-up, relapses and treatment were analysed.


RESULTS
71 patients had had time off on some occasion for psychiatric reasons (34% men, 66% women). The mean age was 38 (SD 10). The mean number of days off in the first period of time off (n = 71) was 155 days (SD = 302), in the second (n = 21) 209 (SD = 268), in the third (n = 8) 187 (SD = 327), and in the fourth (n = 3) 206 days (SD = 326). Total number of days off came to 16,894. 4% obtained invalidity status for psychiatric reasons. The most common initial reasons for the first period of time off were, by pathology: psychiatric (58%), osteo-muscular (17%), nervous system and sense organs (7%) and digestive system (6%). The psychiatric reasons for the first period off were: anxiety (48%), depression (38%), anxiety-depression (10%), schizoid disorders (3%) and personality disorders (1%). Half the patients were referred and almost all were supervised by the general practitioner. The most commonly used drugs were the benzodiazepines (75%) and serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (38%).


CONCLUSIONS
Time off for psychiatric reasons tends to last a long time and to recur. 42% of these periods of time off was not initially classified as for psychiatric reasons. Half the patients are shared and supervised jointly with the psychiatrist: thus, the need for good coordination between the two areas.
Sans
M
M
Centro de salud Dr. Pujol y Capsada, El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona.
Batalla
C
C
Villagrasa
D
D
Ezpeleta
A
A
Escorza
S
S
Comín
E
E
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors
Incapacidad temporal por patología psiquiátrica en un centro de salud.