Purpose In Germany, return to work (RTW) after inpatient treatment for common mental disorders (CMDs) is a complex process at the intersection of the mental healthcare system and the workplace. This study examined (1) the time to first and full RTW and (2) associated factors among employees receiving inpatient treatment for CMDs. Methods In this prospective cohort study, employees receiving inpatient psychiatric or medical rehabilitation treatment for CMDs were interviewed by phone during their last week before discharge. Follow-up interviews were conducted after 6, 12, and 18 months. Health-, personal, and work-related factors were used from baseline measurement. Parametric survival analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with time to first and full RTW. Results A total of N = 269 participants who stayed at a psychiatric clinic or a medical rehabilitation facility were included. Almost all participants (n = 252, 94%) from both treatment settings reported a first RTW and a full RTW. The time to first and full RTW was shortest among participants from medical rehabilitation (both median 6 days) and longer among participants from psychiatric treatment (median 17 days to first RTW and 73 days to full RTW). While only health-related and personal factors were associated with time to first RTW, leadership quality and needed individual RTW support were associated with time to full RTW. Conclusions More attention to work accommodation needs for RTW in clinical practice and coordinated actions towards RTW in collaboration with key RTW stakeholders in the workplace may support a timely RTW.

Clinical Registration Number DRKS00010903, retrospectively registered.

目的在德国，常见精神障碍 (CMD) 住院治疗后重返工作岗位 (RTW) 是一个复杂的过程，涉及精神保健系统和工作场所。本研究检查了 (1) 首次和完整 RTW 的时间以及 (2) 接受 CMD 住院治疗的员工的相关因素。方法在这项前瞻性队列研究中，对因 CMD 接受住院精神科或医学康复治疗的员工在出院前的最后一周接受了电话采访。在 6、12 和 18 个月后进行了后续访谈。从基线测量中使用了健康、个人和工作相关因素。进行参数生存分析以确定与第一次和完整 RTW 的时间相关的因素。结果总共包括N  = 269 名住在精神病诊所或医疗康复机构的参与者。来自两种治疗环境的几乎所有参与者 ( n  = 252, 94%) 都报告了第一次 RTW 和完整的 RTW。接受医疗康复治疗的参与者完成第一次和完全 RTW 的时间最短（中位时间均为 6 天），而接受精神科治疗的参与者中位时间较长（中位时间为 17 天到第一次 RTW，中位时间为 73 天到完全 RTW）。虽然只有健康相关和个人因素与首次 RTW 的时间相关，但领导质量和所需的个人 RTW 支持与完整 RTW 的时间相关。结论更多地关注临床实践中 RTW 的工作住宿需求，并与工作场所的主要 RTW 利益相关者合作，针对 RTW 采取协调行动，可能会支持及时的 RTW。

临床注册号DRKS00010903，回顾性注册。