title: Factors associated with first return to work and sick leave durations in workers with common mental disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Associations are examined between socio-demographic, medical, work-related and organizational factors and the moment of first return to work (RTW) (within or after 6 weeks of sick leave) and total sick leave duration in sick leave spells due to common mental disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are derived from a Dutch database, build to provide reference data for sick leave duration for various medical conditions. The cases in this study were entered in 2004 and 2005 by specially trained occupational health physicians, based on the physician's assessment of medical and other factors. Odds ratios for first RTW and sick leave durations are calculated in logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Burnout, depression and anxiety disorder are associated with longer sick leave duration. Similar, but weaker associations were found for female sex, being a teacher, small company size and moderate or high psychosocial hazard. Distress is associated with shorter sick leave duration. Medical factors, psychosocial hazard and company size are also and analogously associated with first RTW. Part-time work is associated with delayed first RTW. The strength of the associations varies for various factors and for different sick leave durations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The medical diagnosis has a strong relation with the moment of first RTW and the duration of sick leave spells in mental disorders, but the influence of demographic and work-related factors should not be neglected.
authors.affiliation: Department of GZW-Public Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Flach
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
authors.forename: Boudien
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bültmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009426:Netherlands; D009790:Occupations; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*