Objectives
Psychiatric disorders represent one of the most common reasons for the approval of occupational disability pensions. Against the backdrop of an increasing demand, psychiatric rehabilitation plays a crucial role in comprehensive psychiatric care in Austria. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of outpatient and inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation in terms of restoring work capacity.
Methods
The analysis is based on data from patients who have undergone psychiatric rehabilitation. Methods of panel regression analysis and time series analysis are employed. By varying the temporal gap between the onset of a psychiatric impairment and the rehabilitation stay, a case-control study design is applied, allowing for the comparison of outcome measures between patients who have already completed rehabilitation and those who have not.
Results
It is evident that a shorter temporal gap between the initial contact with the healthcare system and the rehabilitation intervention is associated with greater rehabilitation success in terms of work capacity. Furthermore, it is observed that rehabilitation has a positive impact on both the amount of the contribution basis and the number of individuals employed. The analysis also indicates that psychiatric rehabilitation has a mitigating effect on the frequency of consultations with physicians.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that psychiatric rehabilitation has a positive impact on work capacity and, at the same time, alleviates the burden on the healthcare system in the outpatient setting.