Supported employment adapted for people with affective disorders
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN93470551 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN93470551 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | Lund University |
| Funder | RESHAM - Rehabilitering och Samordning nationallt forskningsprogram (Rehabilitaton and Cooperation national research program) |
- Submission date
- 09/12/2015
- Registration date
- 10/12/2015
- Last edited
- 10/01/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide. Periods of depression (depressive episodes) are a common feature of other affective disorders (conditions which affect the mood), such as bipolar disorder. The characteristics of a depressive episode can vary greatly from person to person, but they generally include low mood, problems with sleeping and/or eating, and a general loss of interest in life. In many people, their ability to work is affected by their low mood, and so unemployment is not uncommon. Currently, there are a number of effective strategies designed to help people with schizophrenia and similar conditions get back into work, however this is not the case for people suffering from affective disorders. Currently, there are general schemes in place with local municipalities which are designed to try and get people back into employment. The aim of this study is to find out whether a programme more focused on people as individuals would be more effective at getting people who have experienced depressive episodes back into employment.
Who can participate?
Unemployed adults suffering from depressive episodes.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Participants in the first group receive the individual enabling and support (IES) programme for 12 months, delivered by a specially trained IES-employment specialist. The participants then attend individual appointments designed to help with their motivation, thinking processes and lifestyle, followed by sessions designed to make a plan for their future career. Following this, participants begin looking for work and when they find a job, are given sessions with the IES employment specialist to provide them with extra support. Participants in the second group receive the traditional vocational rehabilitation (TVR) programme, which provides rehabilitation in a series of stages, starting with weekly cognitive behavioural therapy (a type of talking therapy) and support from the mental health service, followed by a “work ability assessment” by the Social Insurance Agency and Public Employment Service jointly. Participants considered to have at least 50% work capacity (ability to work) are given 20-40 hours vocational training a week, and those considered to have less than 50% work capacity are given 5-20 hours of pre-vocational training (a more general programme) at the Municipality services. Throughout the study, participants in both groups fill out weekly log books which they are asked to submit every three months in order to monitor their employment status. Participants also complete a number of questionnaires at the start of the study, and after 6 and 12 months, to assess their mood and general health.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants could benefit from being able to successfully get back into employment. There is a risk however that participants will remain unemployed.
Where is the study run from?
Four Mental Health Service Outpatient Centres in Sweden.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2015 to October 2016
Who is funding the study?
RESHAM - Rehabilitation and Cooperation national research program (Sweden)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Ulrika Bejerholm
ulrika.bejerholm@med.lu.se
Contact information
Scientific
Medical Faculty
Department of Health Sciences
Lund University
P.O Box 157
Lund
221 00
Sweden
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-7505-6955 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +46 (0)46 222 1958 |
| ulrika.bejerholm@med.lu.se |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-blind randomised parallel trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised parallel trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Supported employment adapted for people with affective disorders - a randomized controlled trial |
| Study objectives | Participants given individual enabling and support (IES) reach employment at a higher rate after 12 months as compared to traditional vocational rehabilitation (TVR) participants. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Lund University Ethics Committee, ref: 2011-544 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Affective disorder |
| Intervention | Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups: Group 1: The individual enabling and support (IES) programme is delivered by an IES-employment specialist. The 12 month programme involves four phases. In the first phase (enabling phase) participants attend hour-long weekly appointments in which they facilitate their own motivational, cognitive, and lifestyle strategies. In the second phase (assessment phase), participants attend hour-long appointments for three weeks in which they work with the IES employment specialist to complete a vocational profile and plan. In the third phase, participants begin job seeking and in the final phase (supported employment phase) participants undergo 1 hour sessions once every third week so that they can be provided with further support to help them maintain employment based on their individual needs. Group 2: The traditional vocational rehabilitation (TVR) programme is a general programme that is delivered by various professionals in several settings and organisations and is regulated by the social benefit and unemployment security system. The programme involves stepwise rehabilitation starting with weekly appointments of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and rehabilitation support from the mental health service. The next step involves a work ability assessment period performed by the Social Insurance Agency and Public Employment Service jointly, about 10-20 hours a week. If the participants have 50% work capacity the next step regards vocational training of 20-40 hours a week. Participants with less work capacity will enter a step of prevocational training at the Municipality services regulated to 5-20 hours a week. Throughout the study, participants in both groups fill out weekly log books regarding their employment status. Participants complete questionnaires assessing health related outcomes at baseline, 6 and 12 months. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Employment rate is determined using weekly log books filled in by participants and professionals at baseline, 6 and 12 months. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Number of hours and weeks in employment are determined using weekly log books filled in by participants and professionals at baseline, 6 and 12 months |
| Completion date | 01/12/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 120 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged between 18 and 63 2. Depressive episode F32, recurrent depression F33, and bipolar disorder F31, F30 (includes depressive episodes) as diagnosed by the team psychiatrist according to the International Classification of Diseases the 10th edition (REF) 3. Able to read and understand Swedish 4. Expresses interest in working 5. Unemployed for past year 6. Receiving mental health services at an outpatient team for persons with affective disorders/attending an IES-information meeting |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Severe conditions of drug or alcohol abuse 2. Somatic illness or physical disability |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/08/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 15/11/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Sweden
Study participating centres
Ängelholm
265 53
Sweden
Landskrona
261 36
Sweden
Eslöv
241 30
Sweden
Arlöv
232 33
Sweden
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | Not provided at time of registration |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | Employment results | 01/01/2017 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | Depression and empowerment results | 01/05/2018 | 10/01/2023 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
10/01/2023: Publication reference added.
11/10/2016: Publication reference added.
