Preventing Poor Vocational Functioning in Psychosis Through Early Intervention

Psychiatr Serv. 2017 Jan 1;68(1):100-103. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500451. Epub 2016 Sep 1.

Abstract

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that early detection of psychosis improves long-term vocational functioning through the prevention of negative symptom development.

Methods: Generalized estimating equations and mediation analysis were conducted to examine the association between employment and negative symptoms over ten years among patients in geographic areas characterized by usual detection (N=140) or early detection (N=141) of psychosis.

Results: Improved vocational outcome after ten years among patients in the early-detection area was mediated by lower levels of negative symptoms during the first five years. Regardless of symptoms, rates of full-time employment or study were lower among patients in the usual-detection versus the early-detection area.

Conclusions: Patients from an early-detection area attained lower negative symptom levels earlier compared with patients from a usual-detection area, which seemed to have facilitated vocational careers.

Keywords: Functional outcome; Long-term outcome; Psychoses; Recovery; Research/service delivery; Vocational Rehabilitation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Early Medical Intervention / statistics & numerical data*
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Psychotic Disorders / therapy*