Objective Little is known about the long-term prognosis for employees with suspected work-related mental health problems. Are they employed 5 years after consulting a department of occupational medicine in Denmark, or do they have no or low labor-market attachment? The aim of the study was to examine long-term employment status among patients referred to Danish departments of occupational medicine in the period 2000–2013 due to suspected work-related mental health problems.

Methods The study includes data from the Danish Occupational Medicine Cohort. 17,900 patients aged 16–67 were included. All patients were referred to a department of occupational medicine in Denmark from 2000–2013 due to suspected work-related mental health problems. Register data was extracted 5 years prior to study inclusion and until 5 years after study inclusion. Information on 13 potential risk factors for negative labor market attachment was included. The primary outcome of this study was positive work status, defined as being at work or at education, maternity or parental leave.

Results Preliminary results showed that approximately 85% of all patients from 2–5 years prior to study inclusion had positive work status. The proportion declined to 30% at the year of study inclusion and increased to approximately 50% of the patients 1 year after inclusion after which practically no further increase was seen. Within the subgroups of patients diagnosed with depression or PTSD only 40% and 30% had positive work status 5 years after study inclusion respectively. Besides, preliminary results indicated that diagnosis, sick leave status at inclusion time and previous work participation, were strong independent prognostic markers of work participation at 5-years of follow up.

Conclusion We found a profoundly reduced long-term employment status among patients referred to departments of occupational medicine in Denmark due to suspected work-related mental health problems, particularly among patients diagnosed with PTSD or depression.