Solution-Focused Group Therapy for Patients on Long-Term Sick Leave: A Comparative Outcome Study
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether solution-focused group therapy has an effect on the psychological health and return-to-work rates of people on long-term sick leave. The Swedish Health Insurance program in Värmland chose the sample. A total of 30 individuals who had been on sick leave between 1 and 5 months participated. Participants were randomized to two conditions after the pretest measures were completed. The two conditions were solution-focused group therapy or a waiting list control group. The solution-focused groups met for eight 3-hour sessions. The outcome measures included both return-to-work status and psychological measures, specifically the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Pain Beliefs and Perception Inventory (Williams & Thorn, 1989), and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). The study found that the treatment group returned to work at a significantly higher rate than the control group, worked more days, and that their psychological health had improved at the end of treatment. The difference between the groups regarding psychological health continued, and the difference in work status increased at a follow-up assessment 3 months after completion of treatment. These findings suggest that solution-focused group therapy may be useful in helping patients on sick leave to return to work. Continued research is necessary, of course, including replication of the study by research teams.
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SF group therapy has been found to improve the rehabilitation of orthopaedic patients on sick leave in two studies: 60% SFBT group vs 13% control, and 68% SFBT vs 4% control.
“SF group therapy has been found to improve the rehabilitation of orthopaedic patients on sick leave in two studies (60% SFBT group vs 13% Control)12 and (68% SFBT vs 4% Control).13”
From New approaches towards chronic pain: Patient experiences of a solution-focused pain management programme (2014) · cites this paper as [12]
Studies have found the solution-focused approach to be effective in facilitating outcomes that are meaningful to those with chronic pain.
“While direct research regarding SFBT and physical health is more limited, studies have found the SF approach to be effective in facilitating outcomes that are meaningful to those with chronic pain.”
From New approaches towards chronic pain: Patient experiences of a solution-focused pain management programme (2014) · cites this paper as [12]
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“In a Swedish study, Thorslund (2007) found that 60% of sick-listed workers who received SFBT returned to work within 3 months as compared with 13% who were wait-listed; again these changes were statistically significant.”
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- Authors
- Thorslund, K. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Thorslund, Karin Wallgren
- Venue
- Journal of Family Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-09-21
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 11-24
- ISSN
- 0897-5353 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-4080
- OpenAlex
- W1590498558
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Systemic Therapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Keywords
- long-term sick leave, return to work, mental health, occupational health, pain beliefs, pain perception
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