title: Virtual reality job interview training and 6-month employment outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia seeking employment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with schizophrenia have low employment rates and the job interview presents a critical barrier for them to obtain employment. Virtual reality training has demonstrated efficacy at improving interview skills and employment outcomes among multiple clinical populations. However, the effects of this training on individuals with schizophrenia are unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT) at improving job interview skills and employment outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia in a small randomized controlled trial (n=21 VR-JIT trainees, n=11 waitlist controls).
  
  
  METHODS
  Trainees completed up to 10h of virtual interviews using VR-JIT, while controls received services as usual. Primary outcome measures included two pre-test and two post-test video-recorded role-play interviews scored by blinded raters with expertise in human resources and self-reported interviewing self-confidence. Six-month follow-up data on employment outcomes were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trainees reported that the intervention was easy-to-use, helpful, and prepared them for future interviews. Trainees demonstrated increased role-play scores between pre-test and post-test while controls did not (p=0.001). After accounting for neurocognition and months since prior employment, trainees had greater odds of receiving a job offer by 6month follow-up compared to controls (OR: 8.73, p=0.04) and more training was associated with fewer weeks until receiving a job offer (r=-0.63, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that VR-JIT is acceptable to trainees and may be efficacious for improving job interview skills in individuals with schizophrenia. Moreover, trainees had greater odds of receiving a job offer by 6-month follow-up. Future studies could evaluate the effectiveness of VR-JIT within community-based services.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Warren Wright Adolescent Center, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: matthewsmith@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Warren Wright Adolescent Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: SIMmersion LLC, Columbia, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Laura Boteler
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Humm
authors.affiliation: SIMmersion LLC, Columbia, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veteran Affairs, West Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Morris D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods*; D012381:Role Playing; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Job interview skills; Schizophrenia; Virtual reality training; Vocational outcomes