Type of Project: Funded project Joint project Study
Vocational rehabilitation and integration of persons with mental illness

Background: To date, rehabilitation research has only dedicated limited attention to the rehabilitation and integration of persons with mental illness, although in the last year a development towards smaller community-based service centers within the psychiatric healthcare network has taken place. So far, little research has been done on outcome-predicting variables of such institutions. Objective and Inquiry: The effects of vocational rehabilitation and integration of psychologically impaired people during their rehabilitation process, as well as status nine months after program termination will be examined using a controlled study design. Predictors of rehabilitation success will be described and common access paths to vocational rehabilitation and integration will be investigated. The study will be conducted using a prospective control group design. 120 rehabilitants, 60 from an integration institution (Integrationsbetriebe 2000) and 60 from a rehabilitation center (RPK gGmbH), will be included and compared to 120 controls who will not undergo rehabilitation/ integration. Several different outcome variables will be monitored, such as quality of life level of impairment, symptom course and needs and/or level of needs.