Return-to-Work after depression - evaluation of a retrospective case-control study of an operational integrated care model

The objective of the study was to evaluate an operational integrated care model (IC) aiming at optimized treatment of depression. It consisted of cooperation between a company and an external clinic with respect to early recognition of the disorder, early access to treatment and support for return to work. Method: A retrospective group comparison of patients with depression receiving IC in a psychiatric outpatient clinic (N=64) and a control group with standard care in the same clinic (N=64) was performed. Primary outcome was return to work. Results: Patients of the IC group returned to work significantly more often (Odds Ratio 11.9; p<0.001) and 91.2 days earlier (p=0.010) than those of the group that received standard care. Conclusion: Specific measures of an IC program might accelerate the process of return to work.