title: Work-Anxiety and Sickness Absence After a Short Inpatient Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention in Comparison to a Recreational Group Meeting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to study the effects of a short-term cognitive behavior therapy on work-anxiety and sickness-absence in patients with work-anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-hundred forty-five inpatients who suffered from cardiologic, neurological, or orthopedic problems and additionally work-anxiety were randomly assigned into two different group interventions. Patients got four sessions of a group intervention, which either focused on cognitive behavior-therapy anxiety-management (work-anxiety coping group, WAG) or unspecific recreational activities (RG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were found between WAG and RG for work-anxiety and subjective work ability. When looking at patients who were suffering only from work-anxiety, and no additional mental disorder, the duration of sickness absence until 6 months follow-up was shorter in the WAG (WAG: 11 weeks, RG: 16 weeks, P = 0.050).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short-term WAG may help return to work in patients with work-anxieties, as long as there is no comorbid mental disorder.
authors.affiliation: Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Potsdam (Dr Muschalla); Brandenburgklinik Bernau, Bernau bei Berlin (Dr Muschalla, Prof Jöbges); and Research Group Psychosomatic Rehabilitation at the Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany (Prof Linden).
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muschalla
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jöbges
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011998:Recreation; D062707:Return to Work; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*