Work-related mental ill-health and 'stress' in the UK (2002-05).
BACKGROUND
There is concern about the frequency of work-related mental ill-health and 'stress' within the UK.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a measure of the incidence of work-related mental ill-health reported by specialist psychiatrists and occupational physicians to UK voluntary reporting schemes during the period 2002-05. Additionally, an investigation of determinants, notably factors identified by reporters as precipitants in cases of work-related mental ill-health was undertaken.


METHODS
The study used data collected by The Health and Occupation Reporting Network (THOR) from 2002 to 2005. Cases were analysed by age, gender, industry and precipitating event.


RESULTS
Estimated annual average incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals of work-related mental ill-health diagnoses reported to THOR between 2002 and 2005 by psychiatrists were 89 (78, 101) per million and by occupational physicians were 1589 (1443, 1735) per million. For both groups of reporters, anxiety and depression continued to make up the largest proportion of diagnoses. The majority of cases were attributed to factors such as workload and difficulties with other workers. There was some suggestion that the type of factors associated with the mental ill-health case reports varied between industrial sectors.


CONCLUSIONS
Work-related anxiety and depression and stress continue to constitute a significant proportion of all work-related mental ill-health diagnoses in the UK, with workload and interpersonal relationships reported as significant risk factors. Further investigations may determine whether guidance for employers and employees on work-related mental ill-health would benefit from being more industry specific.
Carder
Melanie
M
University of Manchester, UK. melanie.carder@manchester.ac.uk
Turner
Susan
S
McNamee
Roseanne
R
Agius
Raymond
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult