title: Veterans individual placement and support towards advancing recovery: Methods and baseline clinical characteristics of a multisite study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the methodology and the baseline characteristics of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) enrolled in a multisite trial comparing supported employment individual placement and support (IPS) to a stepwise vocational transitional work program (TWP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program randomized 541 veterans with PTSD across 12 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers to either IPS or TWP. Demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants averaged 42 (SD ± 11) years of age and had PTSD for 13 (SD ± 11) years. The group was comprised of 18% female, 42% African Americans, and 16% Latino participants. Approximately 60% of participants served in the military since 2001, 89% were receiving or applying for service-connected disability, 60% had PTSD from nonsexual combat-related trauma, and 17% had PTSD from military sexual trauma. One third had not held a competitive job in the past 3 years; the average length of unemployment was 2.8 (SD ± 4) years. Unique study features included the focus on veterans with PTSD, a comparison of a promising practice with a usual-care practice, and the outcome criterion of achieving steady competitive employment. Conclusions and Implication for Practice: This study is the first large-scale randomized trial of IPS in a PTSD population. These baseline findings illustrate the characteristics of the study sample, which are representative of a veteran population in need of vocational rehabilitation services and can be used to help guide the implementation of tailored veteran-centered programs. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: Lori L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: VA Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
authors.forename: Tassos C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kyriakides
authors.affiliation: VA North Texas Health Care System.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suris
authors.affiliation: James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital, HS&RD Center of Innovation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottomanelli
authors.affiliation: Westat.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Service Birmingham, VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: VISN 1 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: VISN 1 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center.
authors.forename: Sandra G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Service, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Service, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Blansett
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Service, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: Kimberly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Studies Program Central Office.
authors.forename: Grant D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology