TY - JOUR A1 - Muschalla, Beate T1 - Different work capacity impairments in patients with different work-anxieties JF - International archives of occupational and environmental health N2 - Purpose Persons with work-anxieties are especially endangered for work capacity impairment and sick leave. Work capacity impairment is not directly due to symptoms but due to illness-related capacity disorders. Work capacity impairments can be described on different dimensions (e.g., social interaction, decision making and judgment, endurance, mobility). Understanding the type of work capacity impairment is important for reintegration interventions. This is the first study to investigate work capacity impairment in risk patients with different work-anxieties. Results Patients with different work-anxieties were impaired in different capacity dimensions: Work-related social anxiety went along with clinically relevant impairment in capacity of assertiveness (M = 2.40), anxiety of insufficiency went along with impaired capacity of endurance (M = 2.20), and work-related generalized worrying was accompanied by impairment in the capacity for decision making (M = 1.82). Specific capacity impairment dimensions were related to sick leave duration, while a global work ability prognosis was not. Conclusions The capacity approach is useful to describe work impairment more precisely and beyond symptoms. On this basis, reintegration-focusing interventions such as capacity training (e.g., social interaction training) or work adjustment (e.g., reducing exposure with interactional work tasks) can be initiated. KW - Work ability KW - Work-anxiety KW - Sick leave KW - Impairment KW - Mental disorders KW - ICF Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1099-x SN - 0340-0131 SN - 1432-1246 VL - 89 SP - 609 EP - 619 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Muschalla, Beate T1 - Negative work perception not changed in a short work-anxiety-coping group therapy intervention JF - International journal of occupational and environmental health N2 - Background: Work anxiety is often associated with long-term sick leave and requires early intervention. Work anxieties are associated with negative work perception. Therefore, one aim in early intervention is a cognitive reframing of dysfunctional perceptions of workplace characteristics. Methods: A psychotherapeutic specialist conducted two group programs of four sessions each. One hundred twenty-three rehabilitation in-patients with work anxieties were randomly assigned either to a work anxiety-coping group or to a recreational group. The Short Questionnaire for Work Analysis (KFZA) was administered before and after the group treatment to measure perceptions of working conditions. Results: Participants from the work anxiety-coping group did not see their work in a significantly more positive light at the end of the intervention compared to participants from the recreational group. Conclusions: A short work anxiety-coping group did not initiate a consistent positive re-appraisal of work. Employers and occupational physicians should not expect positive changes of work perception when an employee returns from short medical rehabilitation including work-directed treatment. Additional support from the workplace must be considered, e.g. employer-physician-employee conversation preceding return to work, or (temporary) work adjustment. KW - Workplace KW - Mental health KW - Anxiety KW - Sick leave KW - Work-oriented interventions KW - Work perception KW - Return to work KW - Mental disorders Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/10773525.2016.1238663 SN - 1077-3525 SN - 2049-3967 VL - 22 SP - 321 EP - 324 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Abingdon ER -