title: [Analysis of sick leaves due to mental and behavioral problems].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Chile, the number of sick leaves due to mental health problems has systematically increased in recent years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform an analysis of sick leaves due to mental problems managed by the Fondo Nacional de Salud (FONASA) during 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of all sick leaves awarded during 2008 for mental or behavioral problems, that were managed at FONASA. A negative binomial regression, was performed to predict the effects of different variables on the total duration of sick leaves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 546,477 sick leaves were awarded to 198,752 individuals (2.27 per subject). The mean duration of each leave was 15.6 days. Summing all leaves, the lapse off work was 98 ± 96 days (median 65 days). Women had longer leaves than men. The type of medical leave, occupation, working for private or public institutions, economic activity and diagnosis were significantly associated with duration of time off work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sick leaves for mental problems are prolonged and related to gender and socioeconomic variables.
authors: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez, Santiago, Chile. gmiranda@ucsh.cl
authors: Gonzalo H
authors: GH
authors: Miranda
authors: Sergio O
authors: SO
authors: Alvarado
authors: Jay S
authors: JS
authors: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors