Rehabilitation programmes and quality of life in severe mental illness.
Quality of life is increasingly identified as a key outcome measure for evaluating the efficacy of community mental health services and novel antipsychotics. However, there is a relative paucity of research on the impact of rehabilitation programmes on quality of life. This report outlines the results of two 'naturalistic' studies carried out in a catchment area psychiatric service to evaluate the benefits associated with a supported employment programme and a psychosocial/educational intervention. The findings suggest that outpatient based programmes which provide opportunities for vocational or prevocational rehabilitation may have significant quality of life benefits for individuals with severe mental illness.
Browne
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University Department of Psychiatry, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK.
D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D016832:Employment, Supported; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom