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Depression and anxiety are now the most common reasons for people starting to claim long-term sickness benefits, researchers in London have said. They have overtaken musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, which used to prompt most such claims, the team told the British Medical Journal.
The King's College London team said these benefits - available after six months' sickness - cost £13bn a year. They add an estimated 176 million working days were lost in 2003, up 10 million on the previous year. Data from the Department of Work and Pensions suggests around 35% of people claiming Incapacity Benefit in 2002 had mental or behavioural disorders, compared to 22% with musculoskeletal conditions. Long-term sickness is counted as anything over six months - when people become eligible to claim benefits such as Incapacity Benefit.
The government recently announced that benefit, paid to 2.7 million sick and disabled people, was to be overhauled to remove disincentives to return to work. Illnesses such as depression are treated using medication, although patients often say they would prefer therapies such as psychotherapy or counselling. However, there are long waits for "talking therapies".
The King's researchers also say there are too few occupational therapists in the UK - just one specialist for every 43,000 workers. They say occupational physicians can help find ways for people to return to work after a long illness.
Led by psychiatrist Max Henderson, the researchers write: "Both employers and patients require a speedier response than is currently delivered, as the longer an individual remains off work, the more difficult a return becomes."
Source: British Medical Journal, April 2005.
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