Supported Employment: Motivational Enhancement for Entry and Outcome
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Bipolar Disorder |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | January 2011 |
| End Date: | September 2015 |
The purpose of this study is to compare 6 monthly counseling sessions to 6 monthly
information sessions on Veterans' decisions to (a) participate in vocational rehabilitation
services and (b) become employed.
information sessions on Veterans' decisions to (a) participate in vocational rehabilitation
services and (b) become employed.
Approximately 85-90% of those with serious mental illness are unemployed (9, 10). This level
of unemployment exists despite the finding that, among people who have a psychiatric
disability and are unemployed, 55-61% desire employment, with the total reaching 75% when
concern about losing benefits was taken into account (1, 2). The rewards of employment for
adults with SMI are greater than simply an increase in financial resources. Studies have
found that people with serious mental illness who worked competitively scored higher on
measures of self-esteem, satisfaction with finances, leisure, and overall life satisfaction
compared to those worked little or not at all (11). Supported employment (SE) has been more
effective than any other vocational rehabilitation approach for this population (3, 4) and
the VA has mandated that SE be integrated into all current VHA Compensated Work Therapy
(CWT) programs (VHA Directive 2007-005). Two areas of concern include (a) national
utilization of SE services is low (13), and (b) the percentage of SE participants who obtain
at least one job during the studies averages 56% even though everyone who enters the program
expressed an interest in working (13).
Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice that has been effective in
enhancing a range of clinical services (6), but has just recently been applied to employment
and vocational services by Drebing et al. (7) and Glynn et al (8).
The proposed project is a randomized trial of Adapted Motivational Interviewing for
Supported Employment (AMI-SE) provided to Veterans and their significant others (family
members or key friends) in order to address the internal and external barriers to the
Veteran enrolling in supported employment and returning to work.
of unemployment exists despite the finding that, among people who have a psychiatric
disability and are unemployed, 55-61% desire employment, with the total reaching 75% when
concern about losing benefits was taken into account (1, 2). The rewards of employment for
adults with SMI are greater than simply an increase in financial resources. Studies have
found that people with serious mental illness who worked competitively scored higher on
measures of self-esteem, satisfaction with finances, leisure, and overall life satisfaction
compared to those worked little or not at all (11). Supported employment (SE) has been more
effective than any other vocational rehabilitation approach for this population (3, 4) and
the VA has mandated that SE be integrated into all current VHA Compensated Work Therapy
(CWT) programs (VHA Directive 2007-005). Two areas of concern include (a) national
utilization of SE services is low (13), and (b) the percentage of SE participants who obtain
at least one job during the studies averages 56% even though everyone who enters the program
expressed an interest in working (13).
Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice that has been effective in
enhancing a range of clinical services (6), but has just recently been applied to employment
and vocational services by Drebing et al. (7) and Glynn et al (8).
The proposed project is a randomized trial of Adapted Motivational Interviewing for
Supported Employment (AMI-SE) provided to Veterans and their significant others (family
members or key friends) in order to address the internal and external barriers to the
Veteran enrolling in supported employment and returning to work.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Eligible to receive VA services
- Diagnosis of serious mental illness: schizophrenia, schizoaffective, psychosis NOS,
bipolar disorder, or depression with psychotic features
- Currently unemployed
- Not currently enrolled in Supported Employment services
- Expects to stay within 100 miles of Bedford, MA for the next 18 months
- Has a significant other (friend or family member) who is also willing to participate
(a criterion required only from March 2011 to March 2012 of the recruitment period)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently in prison
- Not able to provide informed consent
- Not able to speak and understand English
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