title: Changes in cognitive functioning in sick-listed participants in occupational rehabilitation: A feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals on long-term sick leave attending occupational rehabilitation often complain about impairments in cognitive functions such as memory and attention. Knowledge of cognitive functioning in these individuals is limited. Such knowledge is clinically relevant for improving occupational rehabilitation programmes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this feasibility study were to assess the methodological design and to investigate changes in memory and attention on participants during occupational rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals attending occupational rehabilitation (n = 28) and individuals working full time (n = 25) matched for age, gender, and education participated. The two groups were administered cognitive tests targeting memory and attention and self-reported questionnaires at pre-test and post-test. Outcome measures were speed and accuracy of responses on the cognitive tests and self-reported work ability, subjective health complaints, and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 35% of all invited participants agreed to take part and 93% of these also completed the second test. The mean gain scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group in response latency on simple and choice reaction time and errors in spatial working memory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that the motivation of participants to complete testing was high. Improvements in memory and attention were evident in rehabilitation participants indicating that rehabilitation may have an effect on cognitive functions.
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Occupational Rehabilitation , Rauland , Norway ;
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.affiliation: b Occupational Rehabilitation Centre , Rauland , Norway ;
authors.forename: Arvid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skjerve
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Occupational Rehabilitation , Rauland , Norway ;|c Department of Public Health and General Practice , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway ;
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: d FOM Hochschule , KCI Competence Center for Behavioral Economics , Frankfurt am Main , Germany ;
authors.forename: Winand H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Dittrich
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Occupational Rehabilitation , Rauland , Norway ;|e Uni Research Health , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Øyeflaten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D011930:Reaction Time; D057566:Self Report; D018582:Sick Leave; D065852:Spatial Memory; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
keywords: Attention; cognitive function; executive function; memory; occupational rehabilitation; return to work; sick leave