The effectiveness of a convergence dialogue meeting with the employer in promoting return to work as part of the cognitive-behavioural treatment of common mental disorders: A randomized controlled trial
Affiliations: [a] Pro Persona, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| [b] Dimence Mental Health Care Centre, Deventer, The Netherlands | [c] GGz Breburg, Breda, The Netherlands
| [d] ArboNed Occupational Health Service, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| [e] Radboud Centre Social Sciences, Radboud University and Pro Persona, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Bas J. de Weerd, Pro Persona, Polikliniek Overwaal, Tarweweg 2 6534 AM, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Tel.: +31243837800. E-mail: b.de.weerd01@propersona.nl.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dialogue between supervisor and employee is of great importance for occupational rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a convergence dialogue meeting (CDM) of employee, therapist and supervisor aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) as part of cognitive-behavioural treatment. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial including 60 employees sick-listed with common mental disorders and referred for specialized mental healthcare. Employees were randomly allocated either to an intervention group (n = 31) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy plus CDM or a control group (n = 29) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy without CDM. RESULTS: The time to first RTW was 12 days shorter (p = 0.334) in the intervention group, although full (i.e., at equal earnings as before reporting sick) RTW took 41 days longer (p = 0.122) than the control group. The odds of full RTW at the end of treatment were only 7% higher (p = 0.910) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: CDM did not significantly reduce the time to RTW. We recommend that therapists who are trained on CDM focus on barriers and solutions for RTW.
