title: Adjuvant occupational therapy improves long-term depression recovery and return-to-work in good health in sick-listed employees with major depression: results of a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether adjuvant occupational therapy (OT) can improve the effectiveness of treatment-as-usual (TAU) in sick-listed employees with major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 117 employees sick-listed for a median duration of 4.8 months (IQR=2.6 to 10.1 months) because of major depression were randomised to TAU (n=39) or adjuvant OT (TAU+OT; n=78). OT (18 sessions) focussed on a fast return to work (RTW) and improving work-related coping and self-efficacy. The primary outcome was work participation (hours of absenteeism+duration until partial/full RTW). Secondary outcomes were depression, at-work functioning, and health-related functioning. Intermediate outcomes were work-related, coping and self-efficacy. Blinded assessments occurred at baseline and 6, 12 and 18 months follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups did not significantly differ in their overall work participation (adjusted group difference=-1.9, 95% CI -19.9 to +16.2). However, those in TAU+OT did show greater improvement in depression symptoms (-2.8, -5.5 to -0.2), an increased probability of long-term symptom remission (+18%, +7% to +30%), and increased probability of long-term RTW in good health (GH) (+24%, 12% to 36%). There were no significant group differences in the remaining secondary/intermediate outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a highly impaired population, we could not demonstrate significant benefit of adjuvant OT for improving overall work participation. However, adjuvant OT did increase long-term depression recovery and long-term RTW in GH (ie, full RTW while being remitted, and with better work and role functioning). TRIAL REGISTRATION DUTCH TRIAL REGISTER: NTR2057.
authors.affiliation: Program for Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. H.L.Hees@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Hiske L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hees
authors.forename: Gabe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Maarten W J
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Koeter
authors.forename: Aart H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schene
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012074:Remission Induction; D062707:Return to Work; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018582:Sick Leave; D016896:Treatment Outcome