CBT Versus a Return to Work Intervention for Patients With Common Mental Illness in Primary Care

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Versus a Return to Work Intervention for Sick-listed Patients With Common Mental Illness in Primary Care: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Common mental illness, such as anxiety disorders and depression, is the main cause for sick leave in Sweden. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in alleviating target symptoms of these disorders, but its effect on sick leave rates has not been sufficiently addressed. The investigators have developed an intervention called return to work (RTW), which is based in cognitive behavioral theory, that has a primary aim of helping sick-listed patients with common mental illness return to work. This new treatment has not been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of CBT and RTW for common mental illness in a randomized controlled trial conducted in primary care. Participants will be randomized to diagnosis specific CBT (n=70), RTW (n=70), or a combination of the two treatments (n=70). Main outcomes are days of sick leave and clinician severity rating of psychiatric symptoms. This study could contribute to new knowledge regarding how to best treat patients on sick leave with common mental illness.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have been on sick leave (at least 50%) for at least 1 month and not more than 6 months
• Have an anxiety disorder diagnosis (obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, specific phobia), or/and major depression, or/and maladaptive stress reaction, or/and primary insomnia

Exclusion Criteria:

• A lower score than 4 on the Clinician severity rating scale
• A higher score than 6 on the Clinician severity rating scale