STUDY PROTOCOL Open Access The effectiveness of the “Brainwork Intervention”

with psychological problems: design of a controlled clinical trial Selwin S Audhoe*, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen, Jan L Hoving, Judith K Sluiter and Monique HW Frings-Dresen Background: Among the working population, unemployed, temporary agency and expired fixed-term contract workers having psychological problems are a particularly vulnerable group, at risk for sickness absence and prolonged work disability. Studies investigating the effectiveness of return-to-work (RTW) interventions on these workers, who are without an employment contract, are scarce. Therefore, a RTW intervention called ‘Brainwork ’ was developed. The objective of this paper is to describe the ‘Brainwork Intervention ’ and the trial design evaluating its effectiveness in reducing the duration of sick leave compared to usual care. Methods/Design: The ‘Brainwork Intervention ’ is designed to assist unemployed, temporary agency and expired fixed-term contract workers who are sick-listed due to psychological problems, with their return to work. The ‘Brainwork Intervention ’ uses an activating approach: in the early stage of sick leave, workers are encouraged to exercise and undertake activities aimed at regaining control and functional recovery while job coaches actively support their search for (temporary) jobs. The content of the intervention is tailored to the severity of the psychological problems an