Returning to Work After Stress-Related Sick Leave: An Effectiveness Trial of Work-Focused Treatments in Primary Care

In WCBT, the central idea is that CBT techniques can be applied in a work context with the aim of achieving both usual treatment goals related to symptoms and RTW. To ensure positive effects at both symptomatic and functional levels, a work perspective must be fully integrated into the intervention to optimize the treatment effect which demands collaboration with the sick leave prescribing doctor and the patient's employer. The protocol is based on principles of increasing return-to-work self-efficacy (RTW-SE). Work-specific components, such as work anamnesis, adjusting the difficulty of work tasks, and developing a return-to-work plan that includes recommendations for workplace accommodations, are integrated into all treatment sessions.

Standard Care is defined as care by the sick leave prescribing physician and the rehab coordinator. Other interventions such as psychological treatment, physiotherapy etc. may also be included in this arm.