Current trends in workers' compensation stress claims

Purpose of review This paper seeks to update the reader in this area and features a notable recent development relating to the approach to treatment and rehabilitation of those suffering from work-related stress-induced illnesses. This may represent one of few successful therapeutic efforts to deal somewhat broadly with this socially problematic group of conditions. Work-related stress issues have been addressed in a number of publications since the early 1990s. Those publications, reporting clinical and epidemiological findings, have been quite illuminating as to the incidence and the degree of disability resulting from mental illness arising within work settings. However, the major interventions have been political, as urged by many seeking a reduction in economic costs to the workers' compensation system of stress claims. The result has been legislation that has reduced access to the workers' compensation system for those who may be suffering from work-related stress illnesses. This trend may continue for political reasons. Recent findings The past 2 years have seen few relevant clinical developments in the area of disability due to work stress. Most recent publications have concerned topics addressed in earlier years. These include significant factors influencing recovery, comprehensive reviews of work-related stress, and a review of readiness for return to work as it relates to the interpersonal impact of healthcare, workplace and insurance factors. Summary Patients receiving treatment for injuries compensated for by the workers compensation system, as well as those involving tort litigation or disability insurance claims, have historically had poorer outcomes than those with injuries for which compensation cannot be provided. The theory has been that this rests on various factors primarily within the claimant. Newer research looking at readiness to return to work from the perspective not only of the claimant but also of the interpersonal impact of various factors in the environment may shed considerable light on this topic and provide a new framework for dealing with such claims.