Early psychosis and employment

Employment may be an important factor in helping patients with early psychosis to recover rapidly and to avoid involvement in disability and welfare programs.

This study followed 351 patients with early psychoses, either primary psychoses or substance-induced psychoses, for two years to examine their patterns of competitive employment in relation to service use, psychosocial outcomes, and disability and welfare payments.

Workers differed from non-workers at baseline and over two years. At baseline, they had better educational and employment histories, were more likely to have substance-induced psychoses rather than primary psychoses, were less likely to have drug dependence, had fewer negative symptoms, and had better psychosocial adjustment. Over two years, baseline psychosocial differences persisted, and the workers used fewer medications, mental health services, and disability or welfare payments.

Employment predicts less service use and fewer disability claims among early psychosis patients. Thus, greater attention to supported employment early in the course of illness may reduce federal insurance costs and disability payments.