Individual placement and support in Sweden - a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Currently there is no evidence on the effectiveness of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in Sweden. AIMS: To determine the effectiveness of IPS on vocational outcomes among people with severe mental illness (SMI) in a Swedish context. A secondary aim was to evaluate a community integration effect. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with a parallel design was used. Mental health outpatients with SMI were randomized to IPS or traditional vocational rehabilitation (TVR) services. The allocation status was assessor-blinded. The primary outcome was competitive employment. All vocational outcomes were collected continuously, and socio-demographic and clinical variables at baseline, 6 and 18 months. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00960024. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty participants were randomized. Eighty seven per cent were assessed after 6 months, and 73% after 18 months. IPS was more effective than TVR in terms of gaining employment at 18-month follow-up (46% vs. 11%; difference 36%, 95% CI 18-54), along with the amount of working hours and weeks, longer job tenure periods and income. Cox regression analysis showed that IPS participants gained employment five times quicker than those in TVR. Ninety per cent of the IPS participants became involved in work, internships or education, i.e. activities integrated in mainstream community settings, while 24% in the TVR group achieved this. CONCLUSIONS: IPS is effective in a Swedish context in terms of gaining employment and becoming integrated within the local community. The welfare system presented obstacles for gaining competitive employment directly and it was indicated that internships delayed time to first competitive employment.

Factors related to the return to work potential in persons with severe mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the relationship between the return to work potential, according to the Worker Role Interview (WRI) assessment, and clinical characteristics and level of empowerment and occupational engagement among persons with severe mental illness who express their own interest in working. METHODS: 120 participants entered the study. The WRI, the Brief Psychiatric and Rating Scale, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Empowerment Scale, and the Profiles of Occupational Engagement in Severe mental illness were used for data collection. Correlation and regression analyses were used for statistics. RESULTS: The return to work potential was significantly associated with having fewer symptoms, rehabilitation support or productive activities, and higher levels of engagement and empowerment. A younger age had an inverse relation to the lifestyle component in WRI. Depressive symptoms and occupational engagement explained 42% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the use of an empowerment approach, taking into account the clients' symptoms, age, and time use. In addition, involvement in vocational support and productive activities may be advantageous early on in the recovery process.

The effect of IPS on participants' engagement, quality of life, empowerment, and motivation: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with regard to non-vocational outcomes among individuals with severe mental illness. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was carried out, comparing IPS with traditional vocational rehabilitation. The Empowerment Scale, the Worker Role Interview, the Profile of Occupational Engagement, and the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life were administered to 120 clients, at baseline, six, and 18 months. RESULTS: IPS participants showed higher scores in quality of life (p = 0.002), empowerment (p = 0.047), and work motivation (p = 0.033) at 18 months. Within the IPS group, a significant change in QOL was shown at six (p = 0.002) and 18 months (p = 0.000), and in occupational engagement (p = 0.003; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: IPS can be part of a recovery process as individuals may increase their life satisfaction and time spent in daily occupations and community life.

Experiences of the individual placement and support approach in persons with severe mental illness.

BACKGROUND: Across several research studies comparing the individual placement and support (IPS) approach to traditional vocational services, the approach has achieved employment outcomes superior to comparison conditions. However, to understand the efficacy of IPS, it is equally important to consider what is more or less effective as viewed by the IPS participants. AIM: To investigate participants' experiences of IPS participation and their experiences of receiving support from an employment specialist (ES). METHOD: Interviews were conducted with 17 persons with severe mental illness. The interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The principles of informed consent and the voluntary nature of participation were included as ethical considerations. RESULTS: Participation in IPS was associated with hope, meaning and an individualized support provided by the ES. The skills of the ES facilitated the relationship with the participant and the contact with the labour market. However, to make a change happen, everybody involved in IPS had to contribute. CONCLUSION: These findings have endorsed the guiding principles of IPS and emphasized the ES's role and skills during IPS as well as the participant's motivation.