Enrollment in supported employment services for clients with a co-occurring disorder.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

People with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders are often excluded from vocational services, despite the lack of evidence that having a substance use disorder prevents them from being able to work. This study explored enrollment in supported employment services among clients with and without co-occurring substance use disorders.

METHODS:

With data from electronic medical records from a psychiatric rehabilitation agency, relationships between co-occurring substance use disorders and supported employment were examined among 1,748 clients with serious mental illnesses who were consecutively admitted to the agency over a two-year period.

RESULTS:

Despite a similar interest in employment, clients with a co-occurring substance use disorder were 52% less likely than those without to enroll in a supported employment program. Those who were enrolled had similar competitive employment rates (25% for those with co-occurring disorders and 28% for those without).

CONCLUSIONS:

People with co-occurring substance disorders have reduced rates of enrollment in supported employment services.

• Authors: Rochelle L Frounfelker, Sandra M Wilkniss, Gary R Bond, Timothy S Devitt, Robert E Drake
• Journal: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) (Psychiatr Serv) Vol. 62 Issue 5 Pg. 545-7 (May 2011) ISSN: 1557-9700 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21532083 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Chicago
• Cohort Studies
• Comorbidity
• Electronic Health Records
• Employment, Supported
• Female
• Hospitals, Psychiatric
• Humans
• Male
• Medical Audit
• Mental Disorders (rehabilitation)
• Middle Aged
• Substance-Related Disorders (rehabilitation)