ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Many psychiatric patients undergoing vocational training do not achieve successful transition to regular work. In this study, we evaluated the barriers for discharge from day care center to actual work place. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study at a government-run day-care center at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, we studied 76 patients who were undergoing vocational training for more than 1 year. We did a semi-structured interview with patients, their family members, and instructors of various occupational sections. We used a questionnaire of 17 different barriers to assess the obstacles in their discharge from day-care center to actual work place. RESULTS: The majority of them had a diagnosis of mental retardation (n=47) followed by schizophrenia (n=29), and bipolar disorder (n=9). The mean (SD) age and duration of illness was 33.6 (9.7) years and 12.5 (9.3) years, respectively. Patients had more than one diagnosis. The median duration of stay in day-care center was 5.9 years. Doubts regarding performance at a new work place (n=60), fear of performance at new work place (n=65), and the fear of transition to regular work (n=64) were the most common barriers reported by patients, their family members and instructors of various occupational sections, respectively. DISCUSSION: Educating patients and their family members, gradual exposure to new working environment, and increased community level vocational opportunities may potentially overcome above barriers. Getting them to the actual job early in their course of treatment will improve their adjustment to a new work place and overall outcome.
