title: A randomized controlled trial of individual placement and support in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The individual placement and support (IPS) model of supported employment has been implemented throughout North America and Europe, with multiple randomized controlled trials documenting its effectiveness, but it has not been widely implemented in Asia. To date, no rigorous evaluations of IPS have been conducted in Japan. We sought to evaluate whether IPS could be implemented in Japan and produce superior competitive employment outcomes compared with conventional vocational services.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a randomized controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up; 18 participants were randomly assigned to IPS and 19 to conventional vocational services. We assessed competitive employment rates, hours and weeks worked, and wages earned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the 6-month follow-up period, IPS participants were more likely than those in usual care to work competitively (44.4% for IPS vs. 10.5% for controls, p = .022), work more hours (mean of 168 hr for IPS vs. 41 hr for controls, p = .002), and work more weeks (mean of 6.4 weeks for IPS vs. 1.8 weeks for controls, p = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPS can be implemented in Japan and yield better competitive employment outcomes than conventional vocational services. Adoption of the IPS model might have a dramatic impact on the mental health service system in Japan where psychiatric hospitals play a central role in mental health care.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Social Welfare, Japan College of Social Work.
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.affiliation: Psilocybe Inc.
authors.forename: Tamaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sono
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Comprehensive Welfare, Tohoku Fukushi University.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry.
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods