Effects of a directive return to work approach in the treatment of workman's compensation patients with chronic pain.

The incidence of work resumption of two groups of differentially treated workman's compensation patients with chronic pain was retrospectively examined. Significantly more patients who were directed to return to work during the treatment program (group II) did so (60%), than did patients in another group (group I) who were similarly treated but for whom work return was not a component of therapy (25%). At follow-up an average of 9.6 months later, 90% of the group II patients were still working. As well, patients in group II were receiving fewer compensation benefits and had received less additional treatment for their pain than group I patients.