Modifiable Predictors of Supported Employment Outcomes Among People With Severe Mental Illness

• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800562
• Publication Date: 2019-06-12T07:25:46Z
• Authors: Zanjbeel Mahmood; Amber V. Keller; Cynthia Z. Burton; Lea Vella; Georg E. Matt; Susan R. McGurk; Elizabeth W. Twamley
• Keywords: Educational Attainment; Supported employment; Depression

Objective: Among people with severe mental illnesses, neuropsychological abilities may contribute to vocational outcomes, such as job attainment, tenure, and wages earned. The current study aimed determine the strongest other modifiable predictors of work outcomes in 153 illness (schizophrenia, 38%; bipolar disorder, 24%; major depression, 38%) who participated a 2-year supported employment study. Methods: Assessments performance, functional capacity, social skills, psychiatric symptom severity were administered at baseline; (job weeks worked, earned) collected weekly for 2 years. Results: Independent education, diagnosis, estimated intellectual functioning, more recent history less negative symptoms significantly predicted attainment during 47% obtained jobs, better global performance (i.e., lower deficit score) was significant predictor greater worked. Both higher Conclusions: Modifiable included cognitive functioning severity; thus, interventions improve these factors decrease loss productivity associated illness.