Skip to main content

Psychological Distress in Workers’ Compensation Claimants: Prevalence, Predictors and Mental Health Service Use

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation volume 30, pages 194–202 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose To determine the prevalence and predictors of psychological distress among injured and ill workers and their mental health service use. Methods Cross-sectional national survey of adults with work-related musculoskeletal or mental health conditions, accepted workers’ compensation claims and at least 1 day off work. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler-6 scale. Mental health service use was measured using self-report. Results A total of 3755 workers were included in the study (Musculoskeletal disorder = 3160; Mental health condition = 595). Of these, 1034 (27.5%) and 525 (14.0%) recorded moderate and severe psychological distress, respectively. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression revealed that being off work, poor general health, low work ability, financial stress, stressful interactions with healthcare providers and having diagnosed mental health conditions had the strongest associations with presence of psychological distress. Of the subgroup with musculoskeletal disorders and psychological distress (N = 1197), 325 (27.2%) reported accessing mental health services in the past four weeks. Severe psychological distress, being off work, worse general health and requiring support during claim were most strongly associated with greater odds of service use. Conclusions The prevalence of psychological distress among workers’ compensation claimants is high. Most workers with musculoskeletal disorders and psychological distress do not access mental health services. Screening, early intervention and referral programs may reduce the prevalence and impact of psychological distress.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from Safe Work Australia but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of Safe Work Australia and the Australian state, territory and Commonwealth workers compensation regulatory authorities.

References

  1. McLaren CF, Baldwin ML, Boden LI. Workers’ compensation: benefits, costs and coverage (2016 data). Washington, DC: National Academy of Social Insurance; 2018. p. 100.

  2. Safe Work Australia. Comparison of workers’ compensation arrangements in Australia and New Zealand, 2016. Canberra: Safe Work Australia; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Craig A, Tran Y, Guest R, Gopinath B, Jagnoor J, Bryant RA, et al. Psychological impact of injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2016;6(9):e011993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Dersh J, Gatchel RJ, Mayer T, Polatin R, Temple OR. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with chronic disabling occupational spinal disorders. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006;31(10):1156–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Franche RL, Carnide N, Hogg-Johnson S, Cote P, Breslin C, Bultmann U, et al. Course, diagnosis and treatment of depressive symptomatology in workers following a workplace injury: a prospective cohort study. Can J Psychiatry. 2009;54(8):534–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim J. Depression as a psychosocial consequence of occupational injury in the US working population: findings from the medical expenditure panel survey. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Carnide N, Franche RL, Hogg-Johnson S, Cote P, Breslin C, Severin CN, et al. Course of depressive symptoms followinng a workplace injury: a 12 month follow up update. J Occup Rehabil. 2016;26:204–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cullen KL, Irvin E, Collie A, Clay F, Gensby U, Jennings PA, et al. Effectiveness of workplace interventions in return-to-work for musculoskeletal, pain-related and mental health conditions: an update of the evidence and messages for practitioners. J Occup Rehabil. 2018;28:1–15.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kilgour E, Kosny A, McKenzie D, Collie A. Interactions between injured workers and insurers in workers’ compensation systems: a systematic review of qualitative research literature. J Occup Rehabil. 2015;25(1):160–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Grant GM, O’Donnell ML, Spittal MJ, Creamer M, Studdert DM. Relationship between stressfulness of claiming for injury compensation and long-term recovery: a prospective cohort study. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71(4):446–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hepburn CG, Kelloway EK, Franche RL. Early employer response to workplace injury: what injured workers perceive as fair and why these perceptions matter. J Occup Health Psychol. 2010;15(4):409–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kilgour E, Kosny A, McKenzie D, Collie A. Healing or harming? Healthcare provider interactions with injured workers and insurers in workers’ compensation systems. J Occup Rehabil. 2015;25(1):220–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian Burden of Disease Study. Impact and causes of illness and death in Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Safe Work Australia. Australian workers’ compensation statistics 2015–16. Australia: Canberra; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 6202.0—Labour Force, Australia, May 2018.

  16. Lane TJ, Collie A, Hassani-Mahmooei B. Work-related injury and illness in Australia, 2004 to 2014. What is the incidence of work-related conditions and their impact on time lost from work by state and territory, age, gender and injury type? Melbourne, Australia: Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research; 2016. Contract No.: 118-0616-R02.

  17. Social Research Centre. Return to Work Survey: 2016 Summary Research Report (Australia and New Zealand). Australia: Safe Work Australia, Melbourne; 2017. p. 59.

  18. Social Research Centre. Return to Work Survey, 2017/18: Headline Measures Report. Melbourne: Safe Work Australia; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Costa-Black K. Work disability models: past and present. In: Loisel P, Anema JR, editors. Handbook of work disability: prevention and management. New York: Springer-Verlag; 2014. p. 71–93.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Social Research Centre. National Return to Work Survey 2018 Questionnaire. Melbourne: Safe Work Australia; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kessler RC, Andrews G, Colpe LJ, Hiripi E, Mroczek DK, Normand SL, et al. Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med. 2002;32(6):959–976.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kessler RC, Barker PR, Colpe LJ, Epstein JF, Gfroerer JC, Hiripi E, et al. Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003;60(2):184–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Prochaska JJ, Sung HY, Max W, Shi Y, Ong M. Validity study of the K6 scale as a measure of moderate mental distress based on mental health treatment need and utilization. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2012;21(2):88–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Smith PM, Black O, Keegel T, Collie A. Are the predictors of work absence following a work-related injury similar for musculoskeletal and mental health claims? J Occup Rehabil. 2014;24(1):79–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Collie A, Lane TJ, Hassani-Mahmooei B, Thompson J, McLeod C. Does time off work after injury vary by jurisdiction? A comparative study of eight Australian workers’ compensation systems. BMJ Open. 2016;6(5):e010910.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Safety Australian, Council Compensation. Type of occurrence classification system, 3rd edition (revision 1). Canberra: Australian Government; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian and New Zealand standard industrial classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 2.0). Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Prawitz AD, Garman ET, Sorhaindo B, O’Neill B, Jinhee K, Drentea P. In Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale: Development, Administration, and Score Interpretation. J Financ Couns Plan. 2006;17(1):34–50.

    Google Scholar 

  29. StataCorp. Stata Statistical software: release 15.1. College Station: StataCorp LLC; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey 2014–15. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Macpherson RA, Lane TJ, Collie A, McLeod CB. Age, sex, and the changing disability burden of compensated work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Canada and Australia. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):758.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Elbers NA, Collie A, Hogg-Johnson S, Lippel K, Lockwood K, Cameron ID. Differences in perceived fairness and health outcomes in two injury compensation systems: a comparative study. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Mazza D, Brijnath B, Singh N, Kosny A, Ruseckaite R, Collie A. General practitioners and sickness certification for injury in Australia. BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Brijnath B, Mazza D, Singh N, Kosny A, Ruseckaite R, Collie A. Mental health claims management and return to work: qualitative insights from Melbourne, Australia. J Occup Rehabil. 2014;24(4):766–776.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kilgour E, Kosny A, Akkermans AJ, Collie A. Procedural justice and the use of independent medical evaluations in workers’ compensation. Psychol Injury Law. 2015;8(2):153–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2007. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This project was funded by Safe Work Australia and Worksafe Victoria through a grant to the first named author (AC). This publication uses data supplied by Safe Work Australia and has been compiled in collaboration with Australian state, territory and Commonwealth workers’ compensation regulators. The views expressed are the authors and are not necessarily the views of Safe Work Australia or the state, territory and Commonwealth workers’ compensation regulators.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 2, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Alex Collie, Luke Sheehan, Tyler J. Lane & Ross Iles

Authors
  1. Alex Collie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luke Sheehan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tyler J. Lane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ross Iles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AC conceived the study and drafted the manuscript. LS conducted the analysis. All authors reviewed the data analysis, contributed to manuscript preparation and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alex Collie.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee approval Project Number 11329) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individuals participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 19 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Collie, A., Sheehan, L., Lane, T.J. et al. Psychological Distress in Workers’ Compensation Claimants: Prevalence, Predictors and Mental Health Service Use. J Occup Rehabil 30, 194–202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09862-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09862-1

Keywords

  • Workers’ compensation
  • Musculoskeletal diseases
  • Mental health
  • Health services