SICK-LEAVE DUE TO PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDER - HIGHER INCIDENCE AMONG WOMENAND LONGER DURATION FOR MEN

Background. Women take sick-leave more often than men, both in general and because of psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study wa s to introduce the new dimension of sick-leave duration in the analysi s of gender differences in minor psychiatric disorders. Method. A popu lation-based register was used, which included all sick-leave spells e xceeding seven consecutive days, 1985-1987, in a Swedish county. Resul ts. Sick-leave duration was longer for men. The greatest gender differ ences were found in the youngest and oldest age-groups. Women had high er incidence also in the longest spells. An increase in duration over the three years was found among women, leading to decreased gender dif ferences. Conclusions. Contrary to other studies on minor psychiatric disorders, small gender differences were found. it is suggested that s ick-leave duration can be used as a quantitative measure of health-rel ated working capacity.