Facilitadores del reintegro laboral en trabajadores con patología mental de origen laboral: una revisión sistemática / Return to work enablers for workers with work-related mental illness

Background: There is growing interest in the treatment and return-to-work of workers with labor related mental illnesses. Aim: To perform a systematic review of practices and interventions that improve return to work. Material and Methods: Systematic literature review. Thirty articles were selected for in- depth analysis. Results: Self efficacy perception, work motivation, a lower age and a better socioeconomic status were identified as worker-related return to work facilitators. Among work environment facilitators, good communication practices, supervisor support, a good assessment and modification of work load, adjustment of expectations, a good relationship between employers and employees and positive work experiences were identified. Treatment may improve return to work using a multidisciplinary approach, reducing stress and identifying psychosocial determinants of mental problems rather than symptoms and providing a timely health care. Conclusions: Return to work of workers with labor related mental illnesses requires a constant sharing of information between health care workers, employers and employees to identify common therapeutic objectives.

Reintegro laboral en trabajadores con problemas de salud mental: la perspectiva de los tratantes / Return to work in workers with mental health problems: attendants perspective

ANTECEDENTES: En los últimos años se ha observado un aumento en la prevalência de problemas mentales de origen laboral, incrementando significativamente el promedio anual de días de trabajo perdidos por reposo. Con respecto al posterior reintegro, la evidencia es categórica en afirmar la importancia de que este sea un proceso exitoso para la prevención de recaídas del trabajador. Asimismo, se constata que a nivel latinoamericano es casi inexistente la literatura e investigación en torno a intervenciones para el retorno laboral. OBJETIVO: Estudiar las condiciones de diagnóstico, intervención y retorno al trabajo que han mostrado efectividad desde la perspectiva y experiencias de tratantes de una mutualidad respecto de la intervención para el reintegro al trabajo en individuos con problemas de salud mental de origen laboral. MÉTODO: Se diseñó una investigación exploratoria-descriptiva, empleando metodología cualitativa. Se utilizaron grupos focales y entrevistas a seis psicólogos, tres psiquiatras y cuatro terapeutas ocupacionales que ejercen sus labores profesionales en una mutual en Chile. RESULTADOS: A partir de un análisis descriptivo, empleando el procedimiento de codificación abierta propuesto por el modelo de Teoría Fundamentada, emergieron cinco categorías centrales y dos fenómenos transversales: La comunicación tripartita y el proceso orientado al reintegro laboral. Ambos hacen referencia tanto al proceso de intervención para el retorno al trabajo como a los actores involucrados en este, ya sea de la mutualidad como también del contexto laboral inmediato de los trabajadores.

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been an increase in the prevalence of work-related mental problems, significantly increasing the average annual working days lost because of leave sick. With respect to the later return-to-work, the evidence is categorical in affirming the importance of the successful of this process for the relapse prevention. Furthermore, we note that throughout Latin America the literature and research on interventions to return-to-work is almost absent. OBJECTIVE: To study the conditions of diagnosis, intervention and return to work that have shown effectiveness from the perspectives and experiences of professionals from a mutuality regarding the intervention to return to work in individuals with problems of mental health of occupational origin. METHOD: An exploratory-descriptive research was designed using qualitative methodology. Focus groups and interviews to six psychologists, three psychiatrists and four occupational therapists were used. RESULTS: From a descriptive analysis using the procedure of open coding proposed by the Grounded Theory model, five core categories and two transverse phenomena emerged: The tripartite communication and the process oriented by the return to work. The two refer to the process of intervention to return to work as the actors involved in this, whether mutuality or the workers' immediate labor context.