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Integrating Psychosocial and Behavioral Interventions to Achieve Optimal Rehabilitation Outcomes

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Abstract

Introduction: Psychosocial factors are important contributors to work disability associated with musculoskeletal conditions. The primary objectives of this paper were 1) to describe different psychosocial interventions that have been developed to prevent prolonged work disability, and 2) to identify future research directions that might enhance the impact of programs targeting psychosocial risk factors for work disability. Methods: Selective review of scientific literature on psychosocial and behavioral interventions and work disability. Results: Most prior interventions focused on psychosocial risk factors that exist primarily within the individual (e.g., pain catastrophizing, beliefs, expectancies). Successful disability prevention will require methods to assess and target psychosocial risk factors “outside” of the individual (e.g., interpersonal conflict in the workplace, job stress, etc.) using cost-effective, multipronged approaches. Research to explore interactions among different domains of psychosocial risk factors in relation to RTW outcomes is needed. Challenges to effective secondary prevention of work disability include developing competencies to enable a range of providers to deliver interventions, standardization of psychosocial interventions, and maximizing adherence to intervention protocols. Conclusion: Effective secondary prevention of work disability will require research to develop cost-effective, multipronged approaches that concurrently target both worker-related and workplace psychosocial risk factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128 Succ Centre Ville, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada

    Michael Jl Sullivan

  2. Departments of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

    Michael Feuerstein

  3. Department of Psychology, College of Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas

    Robert Gatchel

  4. Department of Behavioral, Social, and Legal Sciences-Psychology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

    Steven J. Linton

  5. Center for Disability Research, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, Massachusetts

    Glenn Pransky

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  1. Michael Jl Sullivan
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  2. Michael Feuerstein
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  3. Robert Gatchel
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  4. Steven J. Linton
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  5. Glenn Pransky
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Correspondence to Michael Jl Sullivan.

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Sullivan, M.J., Feuerstein, M., Gatchel, R. et al. Integrating Psychosocial and Behavioral Interventions to Achieve Optimal Rehabilitation Outcomes. J Occup Rehabil 15, 475–489 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-005-8029-9

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