Prevalence and characteristics of work-anxiety in medical rehabilitation patients – a cross-sectional observation study

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Beate Muschalla, Michael Jöbges
ObjectiveTo investigate frequency, type and characteristics of work-anxieties in somatic rehabilitation inpatients. Work-anxieties are serious disorders which affect occupational functioning and often go along with long-term sick leave. Somatic patients may suffer from work-related participation problems due to their chronic health condition. Work-anxieties need specific diagnostic and treatment.DesignThis is a cross-sectional observation study.SettingWe investigated inpatients from a neurological, orthopedic and cardiologic rehabilitation clinic.Participants1610 patients (18-65 years) were investigated for work-anxieties in a short structured interview.Main outcome measuresPatients who scored high in at least two out of nine work-anxiety leading symptoms and reported impairment were investigated with a differential-diagnostic interview on work-anxieties, and with the MINI interview on non-work-related common mental disorders. Patients also filled in a self-rating on their subjective symptom load and sociodemographic data.ResultsAbout 20-27% of the investigated somatic rehabilitation inpatients (altogether n=393) got a work-anxiety diagnosis. Orthopaedic patients report highest work-anxiety and have longest preceding sick leave (20.6 weeks in past 12 months). Orthopaedic patients suffer from work-related adjustment anxieties, social anxieties, and workplace phobia, while cardiology patients are more often affected from hypochondriac anxieties. Anxieties of insufficiency and worrying occur equally in all indications.ConclusionsAbout one quarter of somatic rehabilitation patients is in need of additional diagnostic attention due to work-anxieties. Differential diagnostic of work-anxiety is needed for initiating adequate therapeutic action. Somatic rehabilitation physicians should be aware of work-anxieties in their patients, especially in orthopaedic patients with preceding long-term sick leave.



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