Clinical Characteristics of Patients Seeking Treatment for Common Mental Disorders Presenting With Workplace Bullying Experiences.

Ståle Valvatne Einarsen,Kåre Osnes,Kenneth Sandin,Anette Harris,Ragne G H Gjengedal,Marianne Tranberg Bjørndal,Marit Hannisdal,Odin Hjemdal,Sarah Helene Aarestad

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.583324

Abstract

BackgroundTargets of workplace bullying tend to develop severe mental health complaints, having increased risk of sick leave and expulsion from the workplace. Hence, these individuals are likely to be overrepresented among patients seeking treatment for common mental disorders (CMD). This study investigated the prevalence of exposure to workplace bullying in a patient group seeking treatment for CMD. Further we explored if exposed and non-exposed patients differed on clinical and work-related characteristics.MethodsThe sample comprised of 675 patients from an outpatient clinic in Norway and consisted of 70% women and had a mean age of 39 (SD = 10.5) years. The study had a cross-sectional design and differences between the patient groups were analysed using chi-square, Mann–Whitney U-tests and independent sample t-tests.ResultsThe prevalence of exposure to bullying was 25.8%. The patients exposed to bullying reported significantly more major depressive disorders (MDDs) measured with the MINI psychiatric interview, higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, subjective health complaints, alcohol use, and lower resilience as measured with questionnaires. Twice as many were on full-time sick leave, reported lower work ability, lower return to work self-efficacy, and lower job satisfaction. A majority preferred another job than the one they have today over returning to their current employment.ConclusionVictims of workplace bullying are a vulnerable group at risk of expulsion from working life, being overrepresented among patients seeking mental health treatment for CMD. One in four patients represented with such experience have higher levels of psychological symptoms and are more often diagnosed with depression as compared to other patients. Thus, this is a problem that should be addressed in clinical settings. If not addressed there is an increased risk of sick leave and permanent exclusion from working life.

Highlights

Common mental disorders (CMD) represents one of the leading causes of long-term sick leave (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2015), accounting for roughly 20% of those on sick leave and one third of disability pensions in the Norwegian working population (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2015; Brage and Nossen, 2017). While such sick leave is caused by a range of factors on multiple levels, several studies have established a strong link between exposure to workplace bullying, mental health and absenteeism from work (Lahelma et al, 2012; Einarsen and Nielsen, 2014; Verkuil et al, 2015; Magee et al, 2017)
The results from the present study provide an important insight into a vulnerable group of patients who are at risk of losing their foothold in working life
This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence that patients exposed to bullying seem to be overrepresented among patients with CMD and they seem to have more severe health complaints compared to other patients with CMD

Summary

Introduction

Common mental disorders (CMD) represents one of the leading causes of long-term sick leave (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2015), accounting for roughly 20% of those on sick leave and one third of disability pensions in the Norwegian working population (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2015; Brage and Nossen, 2017) While such sick leave is caused by a range of factors on multiple levels, several studies have established a strong link between exposure to workplace bullying, mental health and absenteeism from work (Lahelma et al, 2012; Einarsen and Nielsen, 2014; Verkuil et al, 2015; Magee et al, 2017). Targets of workplace bullying tend to develop severe mental health complaints, having increased risk of sick leave and expulsion from the workplace These individuals are likely to be overrepresented among patients seeking treatment for common mental disorders (CMD). Further we explored if exposed and non-exposed patients differed on clinical and workrelated characteristics

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