Table 1

Description of the patients presented in the video vignettes12 13

Vignette	Gender, age	Demography	Complaints
1	F, 25	Single, no children Interrupted secondary education Currently in rehabilitation programme Several short-term jobs and sick leave spells	Generalised, wide spread pain Neck and back pain Anxiety and depression Respiratory complaints
2	M, 40	Married, two children Works offshore an on oil platform2 weeks on, 4 weeks off Several shorter periods of sick leave and two long spells	Neck and back pain Sleep disturbances due to pain Irritable bowel syndrome
3	F, 53	Housewife for 20 years with five foster-care children in addition to two biological children Foster care has ended, and consequently her income too No formal education or work experience outside the home	Generalised, wide spread pain Anxiety Fatigue
4	M, 37	Married, unknown number of children Used to work offshore but started as self-employed in construction	Severe fatigue Economic burden due to loss of work capacity
5	M, 42	Married, three children Works as a formwork carpenter No previous history of sick leave	He feels physically and mentally exhausted Has a 12-year-old daughter with serious behavioural problems who is enrolled in a behavioural training programme with great demands of parents’ involvement Afraid that he might collapse No energy left to deal with his daughter after work
6	F, 37	No information on marital status or children Works in a kindergarten Previous 4 month sick leave for same complaints was followed by no symptoms for 1.5 years	Periodic numbness, starts like a toothache, followed by a headache and a sensation of anaesthesia on the right side of the body Extensive medical investigation has not clarified the cause of the symptoms
7	F, 35	No information on marital status or children Works as a teacher at a primary school No history on sick leave or health complaints	Feels tired, weak, does not get things done, powerless and sleep disturbances Relates the symptoms to work overload
8	M, 36	Married, two small children Works as a teacher at comprehensive level Active sports trainer, coaches a first division handball team No sick leave history, no previous psychiatric or somatic disorder Worries about possible serious illness despite negative examinations	Unspecific pain in jaw muscle, then the neck, head and the stomach
9	M, 38	Married, no children Works as a technician at an event bureau producing big shows, theatres and films Commutes 270 km weekly for work	General tiredness from work and commuting and low energy According to his wife, he is irritable and passive, even aggressive towards her

F, female; M, male.