WORK AND NONVOCATIONAL DOMAINS OF FUNCTIONING IN PERSONS WITH SEVERE MENTAL-ILLNESS - A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS

In this study we sought to understand the relationship between obtaini ng competitive employment and changes in nonvocational domains of func tioning (symptoms, substance abuse, hospitalizations, self-esteem, qua lity of life) in persons with severe mental illness. A group of 143 un employed patients participating in a study of vocational rehabilitatio n programs were assessed in nonvocational areas of functioning at base line and 6, 12, and 18 months later. Statistical analyses examined the relationship between work status at the follow-up assessments and non vocational functioning, controlling for baseline levels of nonvocation al variables. Patients who were working at follow-up tended to have lo wer symptoms (particularly thought disorder and affect on the Brief Ps ychiatric Rating Scale), higher Global Assessment Scores, better self- esteem, and more satisfaction with their finances and vocational servi ces than unemployed patients. Employment is associated with better fun ctioning in a range of different nonvocational domains, even after con trolling for baseline levels of functioning.