Intensive Stress Coping Intervention Week - A Secondary Prevention For Real World Affective Disorder Patients

Affective disorders are associated with a substantial personal and socio-economic burden. This study evaluates an intensive brief stress-coping intervention week (ISCIW) as feasible follow-up treatment for real world patients who suffer from this highly prevalent and chronic stress-related disorders. Stress-associated blood (Interleukin-6, Homocystein, Myeloperoxidase), saliva cortisol and psychosocial screening parameters will be analyzed to determine who will benefit from the ISCIW. All patients were identified in a preventive medical screening before pre-treatment for at least three month as outpatient and the following inclusion to the follow-up ISCIW-trial at the Health and Prevention Center, Sanatorium Hera, Vienna, Austria. For the three planed groups and interventions see interventions and arms.

Inclusion criteria

• Affective or anxiety disorder DSM-IV diagnosis (structured interview, M.I.N.I. International Neuropsychiatric Interview )
• Minimum 3-weeks previous therapeutic treatment as outpatient at the Health and Prevention Center, Sanatorium Hera, Vienna, Austria
• Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) score > 2 points
• Minimum improvement of 1 CGI-S points as outpatient
• Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• More than 60 days away sick per year in the last year before intervention
• Therapy adherence as outpatient at the Health and Prevention Center, Sanatorium Hera, Vienna, Austria
• Work Ability Index (WAI) score < 25 points
• Major neurological or cognitive deficits
• Current psychotic symptoms
• Current or previous DSM-IV diagnosis of substance dependence, except for nicotine or current substance abuse
• Failures to comply with the study protocol or to follow the instructions of the study team
• Currently requested application for retirement
• Middle to high suicidal tendency in the M.I.N.I.-examination