Early intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy reduces sick leave duration in people with adjustment, anxiety and depressive disorders.

BACKGROUND: Early intervention in workers diagnosed with mental disorders is associated with a lower incidence of relapse and shorter sick leave. However, no studies have been carried out on the effect of early intervention using an evidence-based therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), on people with sick leave.

AIMS: The objectives of the present study are to study whether the type of intervention (early or late) will affect the total duration of the sick leave, the partial duration of the sick leave, the duration of the psychotherapy and the time until return to work after the psychotherapy ends. The sample was composed of 167 participants who were on sick leave for adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders or depressive disorder.

RESULTS: The participants who had early intervention with CBT had a significantly shorter duration of total sick leave and partial sick leave, and a shorter time until returning to work after the psychotherapy ended than those who had late intervention. There were no statistically differences in the duration or efficacy of the psychotherapy.

CONCLUSION: We can suggest that providing early access to CBT significantly reduces the length of sick leave in patients with mental disorders.