[Employment situation of psychiatric in-patients with schizophrenic or affective disorders].
OBJECTIVE
This study is on employment on the competitive as well as the sheltered work market of psychiatric in-patients suffering from schizophrenia or affective disorders. Furthermore it investigates the importance of characteristics of disorder and of educational and vocational background as predictors of occupation.


METHODS
A sample of 251 in-patients participated in a structured interview during their hospitalization.


RESULTS
43 % of in-patients suffering from schizophrenia and 46 % suffering from affective disorders were employed on the competitive work market during the year before index-hospitalization. Many were without any occupation too because sheltered employment was rarely used and mostly by schizophrenics (17 % vs 4 % of persons with affective disorders). Predictors of employment are past vocational experiences, education, length of past hospitalization, psychiatric diagnosis and sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Results raise the question of deficits in providing with sheltered employment opportunities for the mentally ill and in particular for people suffering from affective disorders. Alternatives to these deficits are discussed.
Rüesch
Peter
P
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Switzerland. prue@bli.unizh.ch
Meyer
Peter C
PC
Graf
Janine
J
Hell
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012759:Sheltered Workshops / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013557:Switzerland; D014829:Vocational Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data