Treatment for work-related stress complaints
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11561502 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11561502 |
| Protocol serial number | 34-2007-03 |
| Sponsor | Department of Occupationa Medicine, Regional West Jutland |
| Funder | Danish Working Environment Research Fund (project number 34-2007-03) |
- Submission date
- 19/08/2016
- Registration date
- 08/09/2016
- Last edited
- 25/09/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Work-related stress is one of the major reasons for people taking sick leave from work
Research suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment works better than other treatments for reducing symptoms of stress, but only a few studies have included patients with clinical levels of stress; such studies have had mixed results. Stress can cause sufferers to develop sleep problems and cognitive functioning problems (for example, problems with memory and concentration).This study is looking at whether a CBT based treatment together with a brief workplace programme (or intervention) for patients on sick leave due to clinical levels of work-related stress is effective.
Who can participate?
Adults diagnosed with clinical levels of work-related stress.
What does the study involve?
All participants attend an interview to see whether they are suitable for the study. Eligible
participants are then randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in group 1 are placed in the treatment group. They are offered six sessions of CBT over the course of 4 months. They are also offered a brief work-place intervention which involves one or two meetings at the workplace with the patient, the psychologist treating them and their employer to discuss the causes of the stress and possible ways to alleviate it. Participants in group 2 are not offered either the CBT or workplace intervention, but are free to seek help elsewhere. All participants on both groups are asked to fill in questionnaires prior to taking part in the study and then again 4 months and 10 months after being included.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Patients might benefit throught improved coping with regards to work stressors as well as symptom improved. There are no serious risk by participation.
Where is the study run from?
Department of Occupational Medicine, Regional Hospital West Justland (Denmark)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Janaury 2008 to November 2011
Who is funding the study?
Danish Working Environment Research Fund
Who is the main contact?
Dr David Glasscock
david.john.glasscock@vest.rm.dk
Contact information
Scientific
Gl. Landevej 61
Herning
7400
Denmark
| Phone | 045 78433431 |
|---|---|
| david.john.glasscock@vest.rm.dk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Stress management intervention for patients on sick leave due to work-related stress complaints |
| Study objectives | It was hypothesized that patients in the intervention group would experience a faster recovery, including a reduced self-perceived stress and a greater reduction in symptoms of poor mental health and with regards to specific stress symptoms like sleep problems and cognitive difficulties compared with a control group. We also hypothesized that the intervention group would return to work at a faster rate than the control group. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Danish Data Protection Agency. The study has been classified as a survey and therefore needed not be reported to the Health Research Ethics Committee |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Work-related stress disorders and adjustment disorder |
| Intervention | Participants were randomly allocated to either a intervention group or a control group. The intervention was manualized (in Danish) and comprises six sessions of individual cognitive behavioural therapy over the course of 4 months as well s a small work place intervention in the form of the offer of a meeting at the work place attended by the treating psychologist, the employer of the patient. The purpose of this meeting would be to discuss and if necessary advice the work place on how to assist the return to process in a suitable way for patient. Both the intervention group and the control group received a clinical assessment at the department before being randomized to either group. However, the control group did not receive further help at the department but were free to seek help elsewhere. Randomization was carried out by the project secretary. Each patient was assigned the next 4-digit number on a list of true random numbers. If the number of these digits was even, the patient would be allocated to the treatment group and if the number was odd, the patient would be allocated to the control group. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Self-reported levels of stress, measured using the The perceived Stress scale |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Sleep problems, assessed using the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire |
| Completion date | 02/11/2011 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 120 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Had a diagnosis of adjustment disorder or reactions to stress (ICD 10-diagnose code: F43.2 – F 43.9 not PTSD) or mild depression (F32.0) (47) 2. The patient had to be on sick leave due to the above 3. The condition had to be evaluated by the psychologist as primarily work-related 4. Patients had to plan on returning to their work place |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Co-morbidity of another psychiatric illness (e.g. moderate to severe depression) 2. Co-morbidity of a recently emerged chronic somatic disease 3. Pregnancy 4. Substance abuse 5. Sick leave for more than 4 months 6. Any degree of disability pension 7. Fired or no wish to return to the work place |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/09/2008 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/01/2011 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Denmark
Study participating centre
Herning
7400
Denmark
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in repository |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/11/2014 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
25/09/2017: Internal review.
