Return to work after sick leave due to stress,anxiety or depression: Pre-intervention predictors and effects of the IBBIS integrated intervention

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate factors predicting return to work for people on sick leave with common mental disorders like stress, anxiety and depression. Method: In a systematic review, we searched Medline, Sociological Abstracts, Cochrane, Ot-seeker, PsycINFO, Scopus and Clinical trials.gov for studies published between 1990-2018. Meta-analyses were done on return to work at any time point, <3 months, 3-12 months and >12 months, and in diagnostic subgroups. Results: 1989 abstracts were screened, 145 studies full text screened, and 32 studies met inclusion criteria. and 29 studies included in meta-analyses. Predictors decreasing return to work probability at any time point were higher age, being male, neuroticism and openness personality traits, previous sickness absence with mental health problems and higher self-reported symptoms scores. Predictors increasing probability of return to work were positive return to work-expectations, high return to work self-efficacy, high general self-efficacy, conscientiousness and high work ability index. Positive return to work-expectations measured at <3 months and high education at >12 months increased RTW-probability while higher age >12 months decreased RTW-probability. No significant predictors were found in diagnostic subgroups. Conclusion: This study included both meta-analyses of return to work at any time point, specific time points and in diagnostic subgroups. Results are overall consistent with earlier reviews, but there is a lack of studies on specified time points and in diagnostic subgroups. Future studies should focus on work-related factors, predictors at specified time points and in diagnostic subgroups, specifically stress and anxiety.