Medically unexplained physical symptoms and work functioning over 2 years: their association and the influence of depressive and anxiety disorders and job characteristics

BMC Family Practice

Research Article

Trynke Hoekstra¹  Jos W. R. Twisk¹  Berend Terluin²  Johannes C. van der Wouden²  Madelon den Boeft²  Henriette E. van der Horst²  Brenda W. J. H. Penninx³  Mattijs E. Numans⁴ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands;Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;

关键词: Medically unexplained physical symptoms;    Work functioning;    Disability;    Absenteeism;    Psychiatric disorders;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12875-016-0443-x

 received in 2015-12-08, accepted in 2016-04-07,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMedically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are highly prevalent and may affect work functioning. In this study we aimed to assess the longitudinal association between MUPS and work functioning over 2 years and the influence of job characteristics and depressive and anxiety disorders on this association.MethodsWe assessed the longitudinal association between MUPS and work functioning, operationalized in terms of absenteeism and disability at work, in 1887 working participants from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). The NESDA study population included participants with a current depressive and/or anxiety disorder, participants with a lifetime risk and/or subthreshold symptoms and healthy controls. Absenteeism was assessed with the Health and Labour Questionnaire Short Form and disability with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II. MUPS were measured with the Four Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire. Measurements were taken at baseline and at 2 years follow-up. We used mixed model analyses to correct for the dependency of observations within participants.ResultsMUPS were positively associated with disability (regression coefficient 0.304; 95 % CI 0.281–0.327) and with short and long-term absenteeism over 2 years (OR 1.030, 95 % CI 1.016–1.045; OR 1.099, 95 % CI 1.085–1.114). After adjusting for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and job characteristics, associations weakened but remained significant.ConclusionOur results show that MUPS were positively associated with disability and absenteeism over 2 years, even after adjusting for depressive and anxiety disorders and job characteristics. This suggests that early identification of MUPS and adequate management is important.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© den Boeft et al. 2016