Table 1 Characteristics of sick-listed employees with and without severe MUPS*

Female %

59.0

73.0

56.6

χ² = 6.9 df 1

0.008

Age mean (SD)

44.6 (10.0)

42.5 (9.2)

45.0 (10.0)

T(486) = 2.1

0.040

Education high/average/low %

33.1/46.6/20.3

20.0/55.7/24.3

35.5/44.8/19.6

χ^2,a = 4.6 df 1

0.031

White %

86.6

75.3

88.6

χ² = 9.4 df 1

0.002

Married/living together/alone %

55.9/14.1/30.0

46.6/11.0/42.5

57.7/14.7/27.6

χ² = 6.5/df 2

0.038

PHQ-15 mean (SD)

9.8 (5.4)

19.2 (2.6)

8.2 (3.9)

Z = -13.7 MW

<0.001

Duration of sick leave (days) on day of consultation (median)

123

135

121

Z = -1.2 MW

0.248

OHP diagnosis * * (%)

Mental disorder

43.1

62.2

39.8

χ^{2 =} 11.9 df1

<0.001

Musculoskeletal disorder

26.8

10.8

29.6

χ^{2 =} 11.4 df 1

<0.001

Other disorder

30.1

27.0

30.6

χ^{2 =} 0.4 df 1

0.537

OHP attribution of the physical symptoms to somatic causes: completely/partly/not or unclear

44.3/21.6/34.1

25.4/25.4/49.3

47.9/20.8/31.3

χ^{2 =} 11.9^b df1

0.001^ac

Idem to psychiatric causes: completely/partly/not or unclear

12.1/17.1/70.9

25.4/26.9/47.8

9.6/15.2/75.2

χ^{2 =} 21.7^b df 1

0.001^a

Idem to distress: completely/partly/not or unclear

26.1/23.8/50.1

36.4/25.8/37.0

24.2/23.4/52.4

χ^{2 =} 5.6^b df 1

0.018^a

Idem to health anxiety: completely/partly/not or unclear

3.6/19.7/76.8

7.5/32.8/59.7

2.8/17.2/80.0

χ^{2 =} 13.1^b df 1

0.001^a

Idem to somatisation: completely/partly/not or unclear

5.9/23.2/70.9

6.0/29.9/64.2

5.9/22.0/72.1

χ^{2 =} 1.0^b df 1

0.309^a