Mental health problems are one of the leading causes of sick leave, with diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders affecting the work ability of many individuals.

In a comprehensive systematic review, in which Peter Skogman Thoursie, a professor of economics at Stockholm University, participated, 14,794 reports published between 2015 and 2021 were analysed. The research focuses on how to assist individuals in returning to work more quickly after sick leave due to mental health problems.

The results show that work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and team-based support have positive effects. Participants in these programmes return to work faster than those receiving standard care or no treatment at all, although the quality of evidence for these results is relatively low. In summary, the research suggests that work-directed interventions can have a certain impact on the return to work, but more research is needed to fully understand which interventions work best for this group of individuals on sick leave.