Stress in Working Life - Realist Evaluation of a Stress Management Intervention for Patients Referred to an Occupational Health Clinic Due to Work-related Stress

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a Danish Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based stress management program designed for patients experiencing work-related stress. The study aims to understand how effective the intervention is for helping patients return to work sustainably and to explore which patient groups and circumstances benefit most from the program. It also seeks to capture patient perspectives on how the intervention mechanisms work in different contexts. The intervention, called MARS (Measures Against Work-related Stress), involves group CBT sessions led by trained psychologists. Patients participate in nine sessions over three months, beginning with weekly meetings and then biweekly sessions, followed by a booster session three months after completion. Each session lasts three hours and covers topics like self-regulation, modifying beliefs, improving interactions, and relapse prevention. Patients also complete tasks at home between sessions. Participants in the study are patients with work-related stress who either received this intervention or were part of a comparison group that did not receive it but were offered usual care. Researchers will assess outcomes such as sustainable return to work over 36 months and explore factors influencing results up to 12 months after the intervention. Data collection includes observational studies and interviews to understand patient experiences and mechanisms behind the intervention's effects.

Stress in Working Life