title: Vocational intervention in first-episode psychosis: individual placement and support v. treatment as usual.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unemployment is a major problem for people with first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia. This has repercussions for the economy, social functioning and illness prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether a vocational intervention - individual placement and support (IPS) - which has been found to be beneficial in populations with chronic schizophrenia, was a useful intervention for those with first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 41 people with first-episode psychosis were randomised to receive either 6 months of IPS + treatment as usual (TAU) (n=20) or TAU alone (n=21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IPS group had significantly better outcomes on level of employment (13 v. 2, P<0.001), hours worked per week (median 38 v. 22.5, P=0.006), jobs acquired (23 v. 3) and longevity of employment (median 5 weeks v. 0, P=0.021). The IPS group also significantly reduced their reliance on welfare benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual placement and support has good potential to address the problem of vocational outcome in people with first-episode psychosis. This has economic, social and health implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, School of Behavioural Science, The University of Melbourne, Australia. eoin@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Eóin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Killackey
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGorry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D014739:Victoria