Processes of task performance as measured by the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS): A predictor of work-related outcomes for adults with schizophrenia?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the processes of task performance as measured by the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) would discriminate between the employment levels of adults with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Twenty adults with schizophrenia who were engaged either in competitive employment, supported employment, prevocational training, or non-vocational activities, participated in this exploratory study.


METHODS
Each participant completed the AMPS, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and the Worker Role Interview (WRI) to gather data about their occupational performance, symptoms, drug / alcohol use, and psychosocial / environmental factors that might influence their work-related outcomes.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed a moderate correlation between the level of employment and the global scores of the process skills scale in the AMPS.


CONCLUSIONS
This should be seen as preliminary evidence that beyond the basic cognitive functions, processes of task performance may also be a predictor of work-related outcomes for this population. The results also highlighted the importance of considering personal causation and worker roles when assessing the work capacities of these clients. Finally, findings supported the four levels of employment used in this study, which appeared to form a continuum from non-vocational activities, prevocational training, supported employment, through to competitive employment.
Haslam
Julie
J
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. julie.haslam.1@ulaval.ca
Pépin
Geneviève
G
Bourbonnais
Renée
R
Grignon
Sylvain
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002170:Canada; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011792:Quebec; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult