[Analysis of case studies to evaluate supports for depressive white-collar workers who are returning to work after sick leave].
OBJECTIVE
In Japan, mental health problems due to work stress among white-collar workers have become an important topic which needs to be addressed. As for the support for workers who are returning to work after sick leave, reliable findings have not yet been reported. The purpose of the present study was to obtain findings concerning support for workers who are returning to work after sick leave.


METHODS
We analyzed cases studies of white-collar workers between Jan. 1983 and May 2009.


RESULTS
We identified 9 types of support; sick leave, change of work place, change of boss, change of work, decreasing work load, introduction of a decreased work load period, limiting work, consultation with corporate health care staff, and intervention by a party other than the company.


CONCLUSIONS
Generally speaking, it has been revealed that each support has both positive and negative influences upon employees returning to work. In addition, consulting with corporate health care staff (p<0.01) showed significantly higher rates of no relapse into depression than in the absence of such consulting. However, this finding might be accompanied with a problem of potential bias with respect to published articles, and the relationship between health care professionals (i.e., physicians, occupational nurses, counselors, etc.) and a depressive worker. In addition, the content and date of a company's support for a worker returning to work might vary significantly. Thus, we need to be very careful in interpreting these findings.
Inoue
Miyako
M
Department of Health Care Administration and Management, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abe
Takeru
T
Miyazaki
Shougo
S
Hagihara
Akihito
A
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D018582:Sick Leave; D012944:Social Support; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult