The effect on return to work and absenteeism of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme. ISRCTN52839015

Introduction
The aim of this study was to test the effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate (RTW) and length of sick leave.

Methods
General Practitioners within the capital region of Denmark were informed about the project and invited to refer patients with persistent symptoms of work related stress to the project. Inclusion criteria were being employed but on sick leave. Exclusion criteria were major psychiatric or somatic disease or abuse. From August 2010 to January 2011 121 patients were referred. Using a randomized wait list control design, the participants were divided into two groups: intervention and wait list control. The stress treatment programme consisted of the following: Nine one-hour sessions aiming at:
1. Identification of relevant stressors. 2. Changing the coping strategies of the participants. 3. Change the workload and tasks. Each participant also attended a Mindfulness meditation course (2 hours a week in 8 weeks). Outcome measure is RTW defined as having returned to a job after three month.

Results
The RTW rate in the intervention group was 85.7 %. This was significantly higher than in the control group (56.9%). Among those who had returned to work, days of absence were 72.8 days in the intervention group compared to 91.9 days in the control group (p <0.05).

Discussion
The stress treatment programme showed a significant effect on the return to work rate and length of sick leave. The treatment programme seems feasible for GPs.