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Sick-Leave due to Psychiatric Disorder: Higher Incidence among Women and Longer Duration for Men

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Gunnel Hensing ,
Kristina Alexanderson ,
Peter Allebeck  and
Per Bjurulf
Gunnel Hensing*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
Kristina Alexanderson
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
Peter Allebeck
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
Per Bjurulf
Affiliation:
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Vasa Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
*
Dr Gunnel Hensing, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, S-581/85 Linköping, Sweden
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Abstract

Background

Women take sick-leave more often than men, both in general and because of psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to introduce the new dimension of sick-leave duration in the analysis of gender differences in minor psychiatric disorders.

Method

A population-based register was used which included all sick-leave spells exceeding seven consecutive days, 1985–1987, in a Swedish county.

Results

Sick-leave duration was longer for men. The greatest gender differences were found in the youngest and oldest age-groups. Women had higher incidence also in the longest spells. An increase in duration over the three years was found among women, leading to decreased gender differences.

Conclusions

Contrary to other studies on minor psychiatric disorders, small gender differences were found. It is suggested that sick-leave duration can be used as a quantitative measure of health-related working capacity.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 6 , December 1996 , pp. 740 - 746
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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