title: Vocationally oriented cognitive behavioural training for the very long-term unemployed.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The very long-term unemployed (i.e. those unemployed for more than 2 years) face serious mental health problems and social difficulties in regaining employment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of a pilot vocationally oriented cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) programme on mental health and vocational outcomes among a group of very long-term unemployed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre-test-post-test design with follow-up assessment at 12 weeks was used to assess the effects of CBT group training on mental health, self-esteem, optimism and attitudes to work. Participants were recruited through employment agencies in Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve weeks following CBT training, the 21 participants reported increased optimism and attitudes to work, and more than half of them had participated in some kind of paid employment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While this study is small and non-generalizable, the findings suggest the value of vocationally oriented CBT approaches in assisting the very long-term unemployed to get back into the workforce.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Health Care & Equity, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW NSW 1871, Australia. v.rose@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult