The effectiveness of a convergence dialogue meeting with the employer in promoting return to work as part of the cognitive-behavioural treatment of common mental disorders: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Dialogue between supervisor and employee is of great importance for occupational rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a convergence dialogue meeting (CDM) of employee, therapist and supervisor aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) as part of cognitive-behavioural treatment.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trial including 60 employees sick-listed with common mental disorders and referred for specialized mental healthcare. Employees were randomly allocated either to an intervention group (n = 31) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy plus CDM or a control group (n = 29) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy without CDM.

RESULTS

The time to first RTW was 12 days shorter (p = 0.334) in the intervention group, although full (i.e., at equal earnings as before reporting sick) RTW took 41 days longer (p = 0.122) than the control group. The odds of full RTW at the end of treatment were only 7% higher (p = 0.910) in the intervention group as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

CDM did not significantly reduce the time to RTW. We recommend that therapists who are trained on CDM focus on barriers and solutions for RTW.