Anxiety disorders less likely than depression to lead to permanent disability, Finnish study finds

A long-term sick leave due to an anxiety disorder is significantly less likely to result in permanent disability than one caused by depression, according to new research by Finland’s Social Insurance Institution (Kela).

The study found that in 2020, 11 percent of individuals who began a sickness allowance period due to depression transitioned to a disability pension within four years. For those with anxiety disorders, the corresponding figure was 5 percent.

Kela noted, however, that other risks anxiety disorders may pose to career progression remain poorly understood. Anxiety disorders have become the most common reason for extended sick leave in Finland during the 2020s.