Factors associated with returning to work after long term absence due to mental disorders

Päivi Rissanen,Sari Fröjd,Sami Pirkola,Reija Autio,Turkka Näppilä

doi:10.1057/s41599-021-00952-1

Päivi Rissanen, Sari Fröjd + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00952-1

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Abstract

If there is a chance for a person’s ability to work to be restored through treatment or rehabilitation, a temporary disability pension may be granted in Finland. We examined the personal, socio-economic and healthcare-related factors associated with return to work (RTW) after the receipt of temporary disability pension. The study material contains comprehensive register data of individuals who were granted a temporary disability pension due to a mental disorder (ICD10: F10–F69, F80–F99) for the first time between 2010 and 2012 (N = 8615). We applied clustering analysis in order to reveal different patterns of returning to work after receipt of temporary disability pension and utilized multinominal regression analysis to examine gender-specific determinants for RTW and partial RTW in a controlled setting. Being a lower-grade employee remarkably promoted RTW for women (OR 7.85 95% CI 5.35–11.51), as did being a manual worker for men (OR 5.47 95% CI 3.48–8.78). Moreover, both active male (OR 3.51 95% CI 2.19–5.61) and female manual workers (OR 2.44 95% CI 1.66–3.59) had a higher probability of partial RTW compared to people who were initially unemployed. In addition, psychotherapy and vocational rehabilitation were associated with an increased probability of RTW. After 3 years from the initial temporary pensioning, almost two-thirds of the study population (69% of men and 64% of women) still had a temporary or by then a permanent disability pension due to a mental disorder. This and further research could improve the ability to recognize those subjects more likely to return to work than others.

Highlights

Mental disorders have become a key issue for social policy, healthcare, and the labour market in many OECD countries (OECD, 2013)
In Finland, the sickness and disability benefits systems are sequenced in an order of long-term sickness absence preceding disability pensions (DP) (OECD, 2010), which can be granted as a part-time, a temporary or a permanent
The partial return to work (RTW) group was formed by people who had working days after one year or after 2 years of pensioning, but no further working days after 3 years, and people who had returned to work after 3 years of pensioning but had just a few working days

Summary

Introduction

Mental disorders have become a key issue for social policy, healthcare, and the labour market in many OECD countries (OECD, 2013). Their prevalence is relatively high in the general population, and they are one of the major reasons for granting disability pensions (DP) (Pirkola et al, 2005). A temporary DP can be granted if there is a chance for the ability to work to be restored. This allows a re-evaluation of one’s workability before being granted permanent DP and an early exit from working life (Pensioners and Insured in Finland, 2012, 2013)

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