Examining Employment Trajectories of Individuals With Mental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Employment is crucial for recovery and well-being in individuals with mental disorders.
• Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based supported employment model.
• Understanding employment trajectories is key to optimizing support services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore employment trajectories of individuals with mental disorders, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders, receiving IPS services.
• To identify distinct employment pathways and predictors of work participation.

Main Methods:

• Growth mixture modeling analysis of data from the Supported Employment Demonstration study.
• Inclusion of 1,656 study participants.
• Analysis focused on determinants of work participation variations.

Main Results:

• Five distinct employment trajectories were identified.
• Work history, educational attainment, and disability benefit approval predicted employment outcomes.
• Mental disorder symptom severity and substance use disorder presence did not negatively impact trajectories with IPS.

Conclusions:

• IPS services demonstrate robustness in supporting diverse populations, including those with co-occurring disorders.
• Prior work experience, higher education, and general health positively influenced employment trajectories.
• Individuals with more severe symptoms can benefit from IPS, with key factors being disability benefits, work history, and education.