Cognitively oriented behavioral rehabilitation in combination with Qigong for patients on long-term sick leave because of burnout: REST--a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Despite an increase in the occurrence of burnout, there is no agreement on what kind of rehabilitation these patients should be offered.


OBJECTIVE
Primary aim of this study was to evaluate effects on psychological variables and sick leave rates by two different group rehabilitation programs for patients on long-term sick leave because of burnout. Rehabilitation program A (Cognitively oriented Behavioral Rehabilitation (CBR) and Qigong) was compared with rehabilitation program B (Qigong only).


METHODS
In a randomized clinical trial, 96 women and 40 men with a mean age of 41.6 +/- 7.4 years were allocated to one of the two rehabilitation programs.


RESULTS
A per-protocol analysis showed no significant difference in treatment efficacy between the groups. Both groups improved significantly over time with reduced levels of burnout, self-rated stress behavior, fatigue, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and sick leave rates. In an intention-to-treat analysis, patients in program A had fewer obsessive-compulsive symptoms and larger effect sizes in self-rated stress behavior and obsessive-compulsive symptoms compared to patients in program B.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed no differences in effect between CBR and Qigong compared with Qigong only in a per-protocol analysis. Both rehabilitation programs showed positive effect for patients with burnout.
Stenlund
Therese
T
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. therese.stenlund@vll.se
Ahlgren
Christina
C
Lindahl
Bernt
B
Burell
Gunilla
G
Steinholtz
Katarina
K
Edlund
Curt
C
Nilsson
Leif
L
Knutsson
Anders
A
Birgander
Lisbeth Slunga
LS
D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D018582:Sick Leave