RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Psychological morbidity and return to work after injury: multicentre cohort study JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP bjgp17X691673 DO 10.3399/bjgp17X691673 A1 Denise Kendrick A1 Paula Dhiman A1 Blerina Kellezi A1 Carol Coupland A1 Jessica Whitehead A1 Kate Beckett A1 Nicola Christie A1 Judith Sleney A1 Jo Barnes A1 Stephen Joseph A1 Richard Morriss YR 2017 UL http://bjgp.org/content/early/2017/06/19/bjgp17X691673.abstract AB Background The benefits of work for physical, psychological, and financial wellbeing are well documented. Return to work (RTW) after unintentional injury is often delayed, and psychological morbidity may contribute to this delay. The impact of psychological morbidity on RTW after a wide range of unintentional injuries in the UK has not been adequately quantified.Aim To quantify the role of psychological factors, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic distress, on RTW following unintentional injuries.Design and setting A longitudinal multicentre prospective study was undertaken in Nottingham, Bristol, Leicester, and Guildford, UK.Method Participants (n = 273) were 16–69-year-olds admitted to hospital following unintentional injury, who were in paid employment prior to injury. They were surveyed at baseline, then at 1, 2, 4, and 12 months following injury; demographic data were collected along with injury characteristics, psychological morbidity, and RTW status. Associations between demographic, injury and psychological factors, and RTW between 2 and 12 months after injury were quantified using random effects logistic regression.Results The odds of RTW between 2 and 12 months after injury reduced as depression scores early in the recovery period (1 month after injury) increased (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79 to 0.95) and as length of hospital stay increased (OR 0.91, 95% CI] = 0.86 to 0.96). For those experiencing threatening life events following injury (OR 0.27, 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.72) and with higher scores on the Crisis Support Scale (OR 0.93, 95% CI] = 0.88 to 0.99), the odds of RTW between 2 and 12 months after injury were lower. Multiple imputation analysis found similar results, but those relating to crisis support did not remain statistically significant.Conclusion Primary care professionals can identify patients at risk of delayed RTW who may benefit from management of psychological morbidity and support to RTW.