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. 2020 Mar 17:11:168.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00168. eCollection 2020.

Workplace-Related Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy to Improve Life at Work in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorders: A Randomized Interventional Pilot Study

Daryl Wayne Niedermoser  1   2 , Nadeem Kalak  1 , Anna Kiyhankhadiv  1 , Serge Brand  1   3   4   5   6 , Corinna Walter  1 , Nina Schweinfurth  1 , Undine E Lang  1
Affiliations

Workplace-Related Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy to Improve Life at Work in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorders: A Randomized Interventional Pilot Study

Daryl Wayne Niedermoser et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Objectives: Individuals suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) often report workplace-related stress as the major cause of their disorder. Accordingly, workplace-related stress was established as a fifth psychosocial problem area of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (workplace-related Interpersonal Psychotherapy, W-IPT). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of W-IPT on depressive symptoms and on workplace-related issues in individuals with MDD compared to a treatment-as-usual (TAU) condition.

Methods: A total of 27 individuals with MDD (mean age = 43 years, 48% males) were randomly assigned either to eight weekly group sessions of W-IPT or to the TAU condition. At baseline, 8 weeks later at the end of the intervention, and 20 weeks later at follow-up, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was conducted. In addition, the participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Work Ability Index (WAI), the Return to Work Attitude (RTW-SE), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

Results: Symptoms of depression in experts' ratings as well as in self-rated ratings decreased over time, but more so in the W-IPT condition compared to the TAU condition [experts rating: large effect size (d = 1.25) and self-assessment: large effect sizes (d = 0.94)]. The subjective ability to work (WAI) [medium effect size (d = 0.68)], self-efficacy to returning to work RTW-SE [medium effect size (d = 0.57)], and subjective symptoms of insomnia (ISI) [large effect size (d = 1.15)] increased over time, but again more so in the W-IPT condition compared to the TAU condition. The effects of the intervention remained stable from the end of the intervention to follow-up.

Conclusions: The pattern of results of this pilot study suggests that a newly established fifth IPT focus on workplace-related stress appeared to be particularly efficient in individuals with MDD due to work-related stress in reducing depressive symptoms and reducing sleep complaints as well as in improving occupational outcomes.

Keywords: ability to work; depression; interpersonal psychotherapy; self-efficacy to returning to work; sleep; workplace-related stress.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Work Ability Index (WAI).
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