Type of Project: Funded project Model project Scientific Work
Reha-Integrativ. Integrative treatment of inpatients with special occupational needs

The project tests a two-week, intensified, inclusive, multimodal treatment with the main focus on psychotherapy for insured persons, who are not yet attending or have no scheduled outpatient psychotherapy. These insured persons are never or only delayed applying for a regular psychosomatic rehabilitation, particularly if they face conflicts at work or contextual barriers such as adjustment disorders. In some cases, the impairment has started to be chronic and their applications for rehabilitation are rejected for a lack of a stability necessary for a successful treatment. The results in any case are prolonged periods of sickness and limited occupational participation. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung Braunschweig-Hannover develops a new therapy that comprises more individual psychotherapy and a treatment plan different from a regular, five week psychosomatic rehabilitation. The project’s goals are: a) to release patients as immediate fit for work after the two weeks, if possible; b) to prepare patients, if indicated, for a regular, five week long psychosomatic rehabilitation, which is offered immediately afterwards; c) to reduce times and durations of absences because of mental illness for all participating groups. The number of participants is about 315 people during an intervention period of 35 months and the project is conducted in the rehabilitation centre Oberharz, Clausthal-Zellerfeld. The project aims and outcomes will be evaluated. The reintegration rate and contribution periods of participants and non-participants will be analysed. A number of participants will be invited for in-depth interviews to discuss the perceptions and benefits of the intervention. A steering group formed by therapeutic and medical administration persons will regularly evaluate the admission criteria and course of intervention so that adjustments are reflecting the patients’ needs. The project is led by Dr Axel Kobelt-Pönicke and Dr Bernhard Koch with the support of Alexandra Kaminski and Dr Felix Behling.