Work-related psychosocial factors and the development of ischemic heart disease: a systematic review.

The literature on the relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) was systematically reviewed: 33 articles presented 51 analyses of studies involving male participants, 18 analyses involving female participants, and 8 analyses with both genders. Twenty of the studies originated in the Nordic countries, and the major dimensions of the Demand-Control Model were the focus of 23 articles. A balanced evaluation of the studies indicates moderate evidence that high psychologic demands, lack of social support, and iso-strain are risk factors for IHD among men. Studies performed during recent years have not shown evidence for lack of control as a risk factor for IHD. Several studies have shown that job strain is a risk factor, but in the more recent ones, these associations can be fully explained by the association between demands and disease risk. Insufficient evidence was found for a relationship between IHD and effort-reward imbalance, injustice, job insecurity, or long working hours. Studies involving women are too few to draw any conclusion concerning women, work stress, and IHD.

[Experiences from a stress clinic. A pilot study]. / Erfaringer fra en stressklinik. Et pilotstudium.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to develop a multi-disciplinary stress management program for employees with long-term stress. METHODS: In a two-year period, 66 people active in the labour market were referred to the stress clinic at an occupational medicine clinic. All but 10 went through the program for four months and were further evaluated after one year regarding employment, symptoms and salivary cortisol. The program consisted of 1) an evaluation of symptoms of depression and stress, 2) stress management consultations, 3) introduction to relaxation techniques and physical exercise and 4) in some cases contact to the work place for adjustments or referral to psychiatric evaluation. Physiological measures such as maximal oxygen uptake, blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL, TSH, HbA1C, fasting glucose and fibrinogen were carried out at baseline and after four months. Salivary cortisol was measured at baseline, after four months and one year. As a control group 24 people with similar symptoms referred to the Clinic of Occupational Medicine were used. RESULTS: A significantly larger number of people in the study group (82%) than in the control group (42%) were employed after one year. There was no difference between the two groups regarding the prevalence of stress symptoms during the follow-up period, even though the prevalence decreased significantly. However, the prevalence of depression was significantly lower after one year in the study group (4%) compared to the control group (40%). Maximum oxygen uptake increased and fibrinogen decreased significantly in four months. The rise in salivary cortisol from awakening until 30 minutes later increased significantly during one year and correlated with symptoms of depression.