Results of a multisite randomized trial of supported employment interventions for individuals with severe mental illness | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Cook, J. A., Lehman, A. F., Drake, R., McFarlane, W. R., Gold, P. B., Leff, H. S., ... & Grey, D. D.
Year Published	2005
Publication	Archives of General Psychiatry
Volume	62
Number	5
Pages	505-512
Publisher	American Medical Association
Background	The majority of people with chronic mental illness are unemployed. Research shows that a supported employment (SE) model approach to vocational rehabilitation for people with chronic mental illness establishes SE as an evidence-based practice and more effective than "services as usual or unenhanced services" (p. 505).
Purpose	This study tested three hypotheses: 1. The experimental group receiving SE services would be better able to to achieve competitive employment than those in the comparison group (work 40 or more hours per month and higher monthly earnings). 2. Differences between experimental and control groups would increase over time 3. experimental group would achieve greater outcomes regardless of demographics and receipt of disability income
Setting	Eight study sites were located in Maryland, Connecticut, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maine, and Texas.
Sample	People "with severe and persistent mental illness receiving outpatient psychiatric services" (p. 506). Additional requirements included: - 18 years old - willing and able to provide informed consent - unemployed at time of entry into the study The criteria for "severe and persistent mental illness based on diagnosis, duration, and level of disability as established by the federal Center for Mental Health Services" were met (p. 506). The total number of participants was 1648, and 1273 were included in the study analysis.
Data Collection	Data were collected at intake and every 6 months for the entire 24-month period using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. In addition, two sites used the DSM-IV at study enrollment, while other sites extracted information from clinical records. Public disability income beneficiary status was monitored bi-annually, as well as "self-rated level of functioning, marital status, and educational attainment" (p. 507). Sites also collected labor force data, such as weekly earnings and hours worked, job duties, eligibility for health and sick leave benefits, and level of integration in the workplace. Sites reported on amount of vocational and psychiatric services received each month.
Control	Four sites maintained services as usual; 2 sites used a "weaker version" of the experimental condition; and one site compared two pre-existing vocational models.
Findings	The experimental groups achieved competitive employment (55%), worked 40 hours or more per month (51%), and had significantly higher earnings ($122/month) than the control groups (34%, 39%, and $99/month, respectively). These outcomes increased significantly over time.
Conclusions	The experimental programs yielded higher and more positive effects than "services as usual" (p. 510). This advantage increased over time.
URL	http://www.worksupport.com/kter/documents/pdf/ResultsofMultisiteRandomziedTrial.pdf
Disabilities	Emotional disturbance
Populations	Hispanic or Latino \| Black / African American \| White / Caucasian \| Male & Female
Outcomes	Employment acquisition
NIDILRR Funded	No
Research Design	Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2005

Publication

Archives of General Psychiatry

Volume

62

Number

5

Pages

505-512

Publisher

American Medical Association

Background

The majority of people with chronic mental illness are unemployed. Research shows that a supported employment (SE) model approach to vocational rehabilitation for people with chronic mental illness establishes SE as an evidence-based practice and more effective than "services as usual or unenhanced services" (p. 505).

Purpose

This study tested three hypotheses:
1. The experimental group receiving SE services would be better able to to achieve competitive employment than those in the comparison group (work 40 or more hours per month and higher monthly earnings).
2. Differences between experimental and control groups would increase over time
3. experimental group would achieve greater outcomes regardless of demographics and receipt of disability income

Setting

Eight study sites were located in Maryland, Connecticut, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maine, and Texas.

Sample

People "with severe and persistent mental illness receiving outpatient psychiatric services" (p. 506). Additional requirements included:
- 18 years old
- willing and able to provide informed consent
- unemployed at time of entry into the study

The criteria for "severe and persistent mental illness based on diagnosis, duration, and level of disability as established by the federal Center for Mental Health Services" were met (p. 506). The total number of participants was 1648, and 1273 were included in the study analysis.

Data Collection

Data were collected at intake and every 6 months for the entire 24-month period using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. In addition, two sites used the DSM-IV at study enrollment, while other sites extracted information from clinical records.

Public disability income beneficiary status was monitored bi-annually, as well as "self-rated level of functioning, marital status, and educational attainment" (p. 507). Sites also collected labor force data, such as weekly earnings and hours worked, job duties, eligibility for health and sick leave benefits, and level of integration in the workplace. Sites reported on amount of vocational and psychiatric services received each month.

Control

Four sites maintained services as usual; 2 sites used a "weaker version" of the experimental condition; and one site compared two pre-existing vocational models.

Findings

The experimental groups achieved competitive employment (55%), worked 40 hours or more per month (51%), and had significantly higher earnings ($122/month) than the control groups (34%, 39%, and $99/month, respectively). These outcomes increased significantly over time.

Conclusions

The experimental programs yielded higher and more positive effects than "services as usual" (p. 510). This advantage increased over time.

URL

http://www.worksupport.com/kter/documents/pdf/ResultsofMultisiteRandomziedTrial.pdf

Disabilities

Emotional disturbance

Populations

Hispanic or Latino | Black / African American | White / Caucasian | Male & Female

Outcomes

Employment acquisition

NIDILRR Funded

No

Research Design

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Peer Reviewed

Yes