Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cognitive Performance in Occupational and Work-Related Rehabilitation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Occupational Health and Rehabilitation

Part of the book series: FOM-Edition ((INTSE))

  • 421 Accesses

Abstract

Occupational rehabilitation, part of the specialist health care services, has existed in Norway for more than 25 years. Individuals who are on long-term sick leave can be offered occupational rehabilitation, based on cognitive interventions and physical activity, aiming to improve functioning and work ability, self-efficacy related to home and work tasks and sustainable return to work. However, a surprisingly small number of empirical studies have been conducted to evaluate and document the quality and effect of the cognitive interventions. Thus, it is essential to investigate the relationship between cognitive and emotional factors and return to work; in particular memory, attention, executive function and appraisal of emotional stimuli from faces, pictures and words. Therefore, the application of the cognitive psychological approach in this field is original. The elucidation of which cognitive changes take place during occupational and work-related rehabilitation in individuals reporting anxiety, depression and musculoskeletal pain should improve the quality of rehabilitation programmes. Relevant empirical literature and its clinical implications along with recommendations for future studies are highlighted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aasdahl, L., Pape, K., Vasseljen, O., Johnsen, R., Gismervik, S., Halsteinli, V., et al. (2018). Effect of inpatient multicomponent occupational rehabilitation versus less comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation on sickness absence in persons with musculoskeletal- or mental health disorders: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 28, 170–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aasvik, J. K., Woodhouse, A., Stiles, T. C., Jacobsen, H. B., Landmark, T., Glette, M., et al. (2017). Effectiveness of working memory training among subjects currently on sick leave due to complex symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beier, M. E., & Oswald, F. L. (2012). Is cognitive ability a liability? A critique and future research agenda on skilled performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 18, 331–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biering, K., Hjøllund, N. H., & Lund, T. (2013). Methods in measuring return to work: a comparison of measures of return to work following treatment of coronary heart disease. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 23, 400–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brosschot, J. F. (2002). Cognitive-emotional sensitization and somatic health complaints. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 43, 113–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burdorf, A., & Robroek, S. (2020). Trajectories from work to early exit from paid employment. In U. Bültmann & J. Siegrist (Eds.), Handbook of disability, work and health (pp. 71-84). Springer International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eskildsen, A., Andersen, L. P., Pedersen, A. D., & Andersen, J. H. (2016). Cognitive impairments in former patients with work-related stress complaints – one year later. Stress, 19, 559–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eskildsen, A., Andersen, L. P., Pedersen, A. D., Vandborg, S. K., & Andersen, J. H. (2015). Work-related stress is associated with impaired neuropsychological test peformance: a clinical cross-sectional study. Stress, 18, 198–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, G. G., Chacon, M., & Chaffee, D. S. (2019). Theories of cognitive aging and work. In B. B. Baltes, C. W. Rudolph, & H. Zacher (Eds.), Work across the lifespan (pp. 17–45). Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gismervik, S. Ø., Aasdahl, L., Vasseljen, O., Fors, E. A., Rise, M. B., & Johnsen, R., et al. (2020). Inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation reduces sickness absence among individuals with musculoskeletal and common mental health disorders: a randomized clinical trial. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 46, 364–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ihlebæk, C., Eriksen, H. R., & Ursin, H. (2002). Prevalence of subjective health complaints (SHC) in Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 30, 20–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen, T., Jensen, C., Eriksen, H. R., Lyby, P. S., Dittrich, W. H., Holsen, I. N., et al. (2019). Occupational rehabilitation is associated with improvements in cognitive functioning. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen, T., Øyeflaten, I., Eriksen, H. R., Lyby, P. S., Dittrich, W. H., Holsen, I., et al. (2021). Sustained attention and working memory predict the number of days on health-related benefits in the year following occupational rehabilitation. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 31, 592–603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansen, T., Skjerve, A., Jensen, C., Dittrich, W. H., & Øyeflaten, I. (2016). Changes in cognitive functioning in sick-listed participants in occupational rehabilitation: a feasibility study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 23, 437–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsdottir, I. H., Nordlund, A., Ellbin, S., Ljung, T., Glise, K., Währborg, P., et al. (2013). Cognitive impairment in patients with stress-related exhaustion. Stress, 16, 181–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamaleri, Y., Natvig, B., Ihlebæk, C. M., & Bruusgaard, D. (2009). Does the number of musculoskeletal pain sites predict work disability? A 14-year prospective study. European Journal of Pain, 13, 426–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagerveld, S. E., Blonk, R. W. B., Brenninkmeijer, V., Meij, L., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2012). Work-focused treatment of common mental disorders and return to work: a comparative outcome study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 17, 220–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGurk, S. R., Mueser, K. T., Feldman, K., Wolfe, R., & Pascaris, A. (2007). Cognitive training for supported employment: 2–3 year outcomes of a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 437–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Finance. (2010). Prop. 1 S (2010–2011). Gul bok Statsbudsjettet 5. Folketrygdens utgifter og inntekter. Finansdepartementet.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, A., Friedman, N. P., Emerson, M. J., Witzki, A. H., Howerter, A., & Wager, T. D. (2000). The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex “Frontal Lobe” tasks: a latent variable analysis. Cognitive Psychology, 41, 49–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2012). Sick on the job? Myths and realities about mental health and work. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2013). Mental health and work: Norway. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Österberg, K., Karlson, B., & Hansen, Å. M. (2009). Cognitive performance in patients with burnout, in relation to diurnal salivary cortisol. Stress, 12, 70–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Österberg, K., Karlson, B., Malmberg, B., & Hansen, Å. M. (2012). A follow-up of cognitive performance and diurnal salivary cortisol changes in former burnout patients. Stress, 15, 589–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Österberg, K., Skogsliden, S., & Karlson, B. (2014). Neuropsychological sequelae of work-stress-related exhaustion. Stress, 17, 59–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Øie, M., Sundet, K. S., & Ueland, T. (2011). Neurocognition and functional outcome in early-onset schizophrenia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a 13-year follow-up. Neuropsychology, 25, 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Øyeflaten, I., Hysing, M., & Eriksen, H. R. (2008). Prognostic factors associated with return to work following multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 40, 548–554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pihlajamäki, M., Arola, H., Ahveninen, H., Ollikainen, J., Korhonen, M., Nummi, T., et al. (2020). Subjective cognitive complaints and sickness absence: a prospective cohort study of 7059 employees in primarily knowledge-intensive occupations. Preventive Medicine Reports, 19, 101103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pihlajamäki, M., Arola, H., Ahveninen, H., Ollikainen, J., Korhonen, M., Nummi, T., et al. (2021). Subjective cognitive complaints and permanent work disability: a prospective cohort study. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. doi: 10.1007/s00420-020-01643-1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Power, M. (2010). Emotion-focused cognitive therapy. Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reme, S. E., Hagen, E. M., & Eriksen, H. R. (2009). Expectations, perceptions, and physiotherapy predict prolonged sick leave in subacute low back pain. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 10, 139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rydmark, I., Wahlberg, K., Ghatan, P. H., Modell, S., Nygren, Å., Ingvar, M., et al. (2006). Neuroendocrine, cognitive and structural imaging characteristics of women on longterm sick leave with job stress–induced depression. Biological Psychiatry, 60, 867–873.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, L., & Lysaght, R. (2008). Cognitive and behavioral demands of work. In K. Jacobs (Ed.), Ergonomics for therapists (pp. 103–122). St. Louise: Mosby Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, H. R., Miyake, A., & Hankin, B. L. (2015). Advancing understanding of executive function impairments and psychopathology: bridging the gap between clinical and cognitive approaches. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Linden, D., Keijsers, G. P. J., Eling, P., & van Schaijk, R. (2005). Work stress and attentional difficulties: an initial study on burnout and cognitive failures. Work and Stress, 19, 23–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waddell, G., & Burton, A. K. (2006). Is work good for your health and well-being? The Stationary Office, London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlberg, K., Ghatan, P. H., Modell, S., Nygren, Å., Ingvar, M., Åsberg, M., et al. (2009). Suppressed neuroendocrine stress response in depressed women on job-stress related long-term sick-leave: a stable marker potentially suggestive of pre-existing vulnerability. Biological Psychiatry, 65, 742–747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. M. G., Watts, F. N., MacLeod, C., & Mathews, A. (1997). Cognitive psychology and emotional disorders (2nd ed.). Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yiend, J. (2010). The effects of emotion on attention: a review of attentional processing of emotional information. Cognition and Emotion, 24, 3–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelazo, P. D., & Cunningham, W. A. (2009). Executive function mechanisms underlying emotion regulation. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 135–158). New York: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Occupational Rehabilitation, Rauland, Norway

    Thomas Johansen

Authors
  1. Thomas Johansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Johansen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Occupational Rehabilitation, Rauland, Norway

    Thomas Johansen

  2. Competence Center of Interdisciplinary Economic Research and Behavioral Economics (KCI), FOM University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany

    Winand H. Dittrich

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Johansen, T. (2021). Cognitive Performance in Occupational and Work-Related Rehabilitation. In: Johansen, T., H. Dittrich, W. (eds) Occupational Health and Rehabilitation. FOM-Edition(). Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-33484-0_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation