title: Expectations and illness perceptions as predictors of benefit recipiency among workers with common mental disorders: secondary analysis from a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Common mental disorders (CMDs) are among the leading causes of sick leave, and more knowledge on factors related to work participation and return-to-work (RTW) in CMDs is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate RTW-expectations and illness perceptions as predictors of benefit recipiency in CMDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial and reported CMDs as a main obstacle for work participation. Three prespecified subgroups were included: people at risk of going on sick leave, people on sick leave (>3 weeks) or people on long-term benefits. Baseline questionnaire data and registry data at baseline and 6 months were used to investigate predictors of benefit recipiency at 6-month follow-up. Benefit recipiency included sickness benefits, disability pension, work assessment allowance and unemployment benefits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, uncertain and negative RTW-expectations were strong predictors of benefit recipiency at 6 months follow-up. Illness perceptions predicted benefit recipiency in the unadjusted model, but not in the fully adjusted model. In the subgroup on sick leave, uncertain and negative RTW-expectations predicted benefit recipiency, while in the subgroup of people at risk of going on sick leave, negative RTW-expectations predicted benefit recipiency. In the subgroup on long-term benefits, only female gender predicted benefit recipiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For people with CMDs, uncertain and negative RTW-expectations predict later benefit recipiency, and expectations seem particularly important for those at risk of or on sick leave. For those at risk of sick leave, benefit recipiency at follow-up denoted a transition onto sick leave or long-term benefit, while those on sick leave had remained so or were receiving long-term benefits. Addressing RTW-expectations in occupational healthcare services or vocational rehabilitation might be beneficial in early stages or even prior to a sick leave episode.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01146730.
authors.affiliation: Department of Uni Health, Uni Research, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Løvvik
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Overland
authors.forename: Silje Endresen
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Reme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010415:Pensions; D010465:Perception; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012306:Risk; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work