The role of medications in the employment of people with schizophrenia

Medications and vocational rehabilitation are both integral to the recovery process for schizophrenia. The development of new medications for schizoph renia, combined with promising research on supported employment, has led to renewed attention to the interrelationship between the two. These new medi cations have fewer motor side effects and greater impact on cognitive funct ioning than traditional medications. Consequently, they are hypothesized to enable more consumers to benefit from rehabilitation programs and to obtai n competitive jobs, More rigorous research is needed in all of these areas, Suggestions are offered to-rehabilitation professionals regarding the role of medications in employment.