Vocational rehabilitation for persons with schizophrenia: Recent research and implications for practice

This article presents research-based principles of vocational rehabilitatio n that have emerged from the study of diagnostically heterogeneous populati ons of persons with severe mental illness, Employment and vocational functi oning outcomes of people with schizophrenia from recently published followu p studies are described, In addition, me present research conducted over th e past decade concerning differential outcomes of vocational rehabilitation services for people with schizophrenia versus other psychotic and nonpsych otic disorders. We then explore studies of people with schizophrenia that m ay illuminate the links between specific features of this disorder-includin g symptomatology, social skills, and neuropsychological impairments-and poo rer vocational outcome, We conclude with a set of recommendations for clini cal practice that draw upon the most recent discoveries and insights in thi s field.