PMID- 20373134
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20100922
LR  - 20231105
IS  - 1573-3688 (Electronic)
IS  - 1053-0487 (Print)
IS  - 1053-0487 (Linking)
VI  - 20
IP  - 2
DP  - 2010 Jun
TI  - The contribution of high levels of somatic symptom severity to sickness absence 
      duration, disability and discharge.
PG  - 264-73
LID - 10.1007/s10926-010-9239-3 [doi]
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The primary objectives were to compare the duration of sickness 
      absence in employees with high levels of somatic symptom severity (HLSSS) with 
      employees with lower levels of somatic symptom severity, and to establish the 
      long-term outcomes concerning return to work (RTW), disability and discharge. 
      Secondary objective was to evaluate determinants of the duration of sickness 
      absence in employees with HLSSS. METHODS: 489 sick-listed employees registered 
      with five Occupational Health Physician (OHP) group practices were included in 
      this study. We measured their baseline scores for somatic symptoms severity, 
      depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, health anxiety, distress and functional 
      impairment. The OHPs filled in a questionnaire on their diagnosis. A prospective 
      2-year follow-up was carried out to assess the long-term outcomes concerning 
      sickness absence, and retrospective information was gathered with regard to 
      sickness absence during the 12 months before the employees were sick-listed. 
      RESULTS: The median duration of sickness absence was 78 days longer for employees 
      with HLSSS. They more often remained disabled and were discharged more often, 
      especially due to problems in the relationship between the employer and the 
      employee. HLSSS, health anxiety and older age contributed to a longer duration of 
      sickness absence of employees. CONCLUSION: High levels of somatic symptom 
      severity are a determinant of prolonged sickness absence, enduring disabilities 
      and health-related job loss. Occupational health physicians should identify 
      employees who are at risk and adhere to guidelines for medically unexplained 
      somatic symptoms.
FAU - Hoedeman, Rob
AU  - Hoedeman R
AD  - Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of 
      Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. rob.hoedeman@arboned.nl
FAU - Blankenstein, Annette H
AU  - Blankenstein AH
FAU - Krol, Boudien
AU  - Krol B
FAU - Koopmans, Petra C
AU  - Koopmans PC
FAU - Groothoff, Johan W
AU  - Groothoff JW
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - Netherlands
TA  - J Occup Rehabil
JT  - Journal of occupational rehabilitation
JID - 9202814
SB  - IM
MH  - *Absenteeism
MH  - Adult
MH  - *Disabled Persons
MH  - Employment
MH  - Female
MH  - Follow-Up Studies
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Netherlands
MH  - Occupational Health Physicians
MH  - Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data
MH  - Prospective Studies
MH  - Severity of Illness Index
MH  - Sick Leave/*statistics & numerical data
MH  - Somatoform Disorders/*classification/psychology
MH  - Time Factors
PMC - PMC2887510
EDAT- 2010/04/08 06:00
MHDA- 2010/09/24 06:00
PMCR- 2010/04/07
CRDT- 2010/04/08 06:00
PHST- 2010/04/08 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2010/04/08 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2010/09/24 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2010/04/07 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 9239 [pii]
AID - 10.1007/s10926-010-9239-3 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Occup Rehabil. 2010 Jun;20(2):264-73. doi: 10.1007/s10926-010-9239-3.