You encourage Ms. S to return to work for the therapeutic benefits of a daily routine, but you suggest she postpone big projects or major decisions until she feels better.
Reassure your patient when you find no compelling reason why she cannot return to work. Explain that feeling ambivalent about maintaining function at work is normal, and staying at work is crucial to confidence and self-esteem.
Recognize the potential attraction of secondary gain—such as attention from family and medical providers and financial incentives to stay off work—but also normalize the experience for your patient. Help her regain her independence and start thinking about how she can improve her work situation.
Related resources
- Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry. www.aoop.org.
- National Partnership for Workplace Mental Health. www.workplacementalhealth.org
- Talmage JB, Melhorn JM (eds). A physician’s guide to return to work. Chicago: AMA Press; 2005.
- Fluoxetine • Prozac
The authors report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.