Work Participation after Medical Rehabilitation due to Mental Disorders: Representative Analyses Using Routine Data of the German Pension Insurance

Abstract

The particular relevance of mental disorders for society and the economy is highlighted in the context of work participation. Based on representative routine data from the pension insurance from 2017, the aim of the study was to describe a group of psychosomatic rehabilitation patients recruited on the basis of selected characteristics, examine the return to work (RTW) rates, to assess individual progression after rehabilitation and to identify possible influencing factors. Work participation was operationalized both as a monthly state up to 24 months after rehabilitation and as a rate of all people who were employed 12 or 24 months and the 3 preceding months (stable work participation). For the analysis of the influencing factors on stable work participation, multiple logistic regression models with stepwise inclusion were calculated separately for the rates after 12 and 24 months. A total of 122,623 data sets were included in the analysis (including depressive episode (DE): n=28,497, 23.2%, recurrent depressive disorders (RD): n=42,573, 34.7%; reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders (BR): n=19,122, 15.6%; dissociative disorders (AS): n=9,716, 7.9% and somatoform disorders (SO): n=8,564, 7.0%). The mean age was 50 years, 64% were female. There were different courses depending on the indication, with stable employment rates after 12 months of 69% in the BR group; 62% in the DE group; 61% in the SE group; 57% in RD up to 52% in the SO group. Factors influencing stable employment after one year were the duration of incapacity for work in the year before rehabilitation, the existence of an employment relationship and a high income. Since the relevant changes became apparent in the first six months after rehabilitation, further support services for people with mental illnesses after medical rehabilitation should ideally begin as early as possible after rehabilitation.