This review synthesized prospective evidence to assess whether achieving employment alters the course of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder.
Method
Researchers identified relevant analyses for review via PubMed, expert referral, and reference review and systematically applied two levels of screening to 1484 citations using seven a priori criteria.
Results
A total of 12 analyses representing eight cohorts, or 6844 participants, compared illness course over time by employment status in majority schizophrenia-spectrum samples. Employment was consistently associated with reductions in outpatient psychiatric treatment (2 of 2 studies) as well as improved self-esteem (2 of 2 studies)Employment was inconsistently associated with positive outcomes in several other areas, including symptom severity, psychiatric hospitalization, life satisfaction, and global wellbeing. Employment was consistently unrelated to worsening outcomes.
Discussion
Achieving employment does not cause harm among people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and other severe mental illnesses. Further detailed mechanistic analyses of adequately powered long-term follow-up studies using granular descriptions of employment are needed to clarify the nature of associations between employment and hypothesized benefit.
I agree working can help so much on feeling a sense of place in the community, Self esteem, self worth etc etc.
But seriously a bunch of doctor educated scientists that have been so removed from the working class society doing the study??? . Stress caused by work and having to do things like 14 hour shifts just to make ends meet are pretty common among many mental ill patients that can work. Often causing the relapse again and often many feel they have to work while ill. Not to mention disclosure issues.
I think I was very very lucky. The program I was in took the time with some of us who they felt were ready for a part time job and tried to find a job that fit our abilities.
I could see a very stressful not helping at all. Having a job has helped me… having a job I like has been a blessing.
I don’t doubt having a job would be really great in a lot of ways. The problem would be securing and then maintaining one.
I want to volunteer again and I think that’s a more reasonable goal for me personally. Having something to do beyond day programme would definitely be nice and even that I’m better off for than when I was just holed up in my house or sitting staring out sorting my head in care.
Accountability is difficult but huge for me. I hope I can master it one day.