The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave.
<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to (1) See whether increased or decreased variation relate to subjective reports of common somatic and psychological symptoms for a population on long-term sick leave; and (2) See if this pattern in variation is correlated with autonomic activation and...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0096048&type=printable |
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| author | Henrik B Jacobsen Johan Håkon Bjørngaard Karen W Hara Petter C Borchgrevink Astrid Woodhouse Nils Inge Landrø Anette Harris Tore C Stiles |
| author_facet | Henrik B Jacobsen Johan Håkon Bjørngaard Karen W Hara Petter C Borchgrevink Astrid Woodhouse Nils Inge Landrø Anette Harris Tore C Stiles |
| author_sort | Henrik B Jacobsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to (1) See whether increased or decreased variation relate to subjective reports of common somatic and psychological symptoms for a population on long-term sick leave; and (2) See if this pattern in variation is correlated with autonomic activation and psychological appraisal.<h4>Methods</h4>Our participants (n = 87) were referred to a 3.5-week return-to-work rehabilitation program, and had been on paid sick leave >8 weeks due to musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and/or common mental disorders. An extensive survey was completed, addressing socio-demographics, somatic and psychological complaints. In addition, a physician and a psychologist examined the participants, determining baseline heart rate, medication use and SCID-I diagnoses. During the 3.5-week program, the participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups. Participants wore heart rate monitors and filled out Visual Analogue Scales during the TSST-G.<h4>Results</h4>Our participants presented a low cortisol variation, with mixed model analyses showing a maximal increase in free saliva cortisol of 26% (95% CI, 0.21-0.32). Simultaneously, the increase in heart rate and Visual Analogue Scales was substantial, indicating autonomic and psychological activation consistent with intense stress from the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The current findings are the first description of a blunted cortisol response in a heterogeneous group of patients on long-term sick leave. The results suggest lack of cortisol reactivity as a possible biological link involved in the pathway between stress, sustained activation and long-term sick leave. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e8f9a8a6bc04c5abfe3670888ecc18f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e8f9a8a6bc04c5abfe3670888ecc18f2025-08-20T02:14:49ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0195e9604810.1371/journal.pone.0096048The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave.Henrik B JacobsenJohan Håkon BjørngaardKaren W HaraPetter C BorchgrevinkAstrid WoodhouseNils Inge LandrøAnette HarrisTore C Stiles<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to (1) See whether increased or decreased variation relate to subjective reports of common somatic and psychological symptoms for a population on long-term sick leave; and (2) See if this pattern in variation is correlated with autonomic activation and psychological appraisal.<h4>Methods</h4>Our participants (n = 87) were referred to a 3.5-week return-to-work rehabilitation program, and had been on paid sick leave >8 weeks due to musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and/or common mental disorders. An extensive survey was completed, addressing socio-demographics, somatic and psychological complaints. In addition, a physician and a psychologist examined the participants, determining baseline heart rate, medication use and SCID-I diagnoses. During the 3.5-week program, the participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups. Participants wore heart rate monitors and filled out Visual Analogue Scales during the TSST-G.<h4>Results</h4>Our participants presented a low cortisol variation, with mixed model analyses showing a maximal increase in free saliva cortisol of 26% (95% CI, 0.21-0.32). Simultaneously, the increase in heart rate and Visual Analogue Scales was substantial, indicating autonomic and psychological activation consistent with intense stress from the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The current findings are the first description of a blunted cortisol response in a heterogeneous group of patients on long-term sick leave. The results suggest lack of cortisol reactivity as a possible biological link involved in the pathway between stress, sustained activation and long-term sick leave.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0096048&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Henrik B Jacobsen Johan Håkon Bjørngaard Karen W Hara Petter C Borchgrevink Astrid Woodhouse Nils Inge Landrø Anette Harris Tore C Stiles The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave. PLoS ONE |
| title | The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave. |
| title_full | The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave. |
| title_fullStr | The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave. |
| title_short | The role of stress in absenteeism: cortisol responsiveness among patients on long-term sick leave. |
| title_sort | role of stress in absenteeism cortisol responsiveness among patients on long term sick leave |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0096048&type=printable |
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