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The effectiveness of individual placement and support for people with mental illness new on social benefits: a study protocol

BMC Psychiatry volume 13, Article number: 195 (2013) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

In Switzerland, people with a severe mental illness and unable to work receive disability benefits (‘IV-pension’). Once they are granted these benefits, the chances to regain competitive employment are usually small. However, previous studies have shown that individual placement and support (IPS) supports a successful reintegration into competitive employment. This study focuses on the integration of newly appointed IV-pensioners, who have received an IV-pension for less than a year.

Method/design

The present pilot project ZHEPP (Zürcher Eingliederungs-Pilot Projekt; engl.: Zurich integration pilot project) is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The 250 participants will be randomized to either the intervention or the control group. The intervention group receives support of a job coach according to the approach of IPS. Participants in the control group do not receive IPS support. Participation takes a total of two years for each participant. Each group is interviewed every six months (T0-T4). A two-factor analysis of variance will be conducted with the two factors group (intervention versus control group) and outcome (employment yes/no). The main criterion of the two-factor analysis will be the number of competitive employment contracts in each group.

Discussion

This study will focus on the impact of IPS on new IV-pensioners and aims to identify predictors for a successful integration. Furthermore, we will examine the effect of IPS on stigma variables and recovery orientation.

Trial registration

ISRCTN54951166

Peer Review reports

Background

In general only 10 to 20% of people who suffer from severe mental illness are employed in the competitive employment market [1]. However, most people suffering from a severe mental illness would actually like to work in the competitive employment market [2]. As persons with mental illness often perceived as unreliable employees by potential employers, the reintegration can be very difficult [3]. Additionally, health professionals frequently discourage patients from applying for competitive employment, because they are convinced that a stressful surrounding will lead to a destabilization of the patient [4, 5].

In Switzerland, people suffering from a physical or mental illness which prevents them from working receive a financial support (so called IV-pension) from the social services SVA Zurich (Sozialversicherungsanstalt Zürich, engl.: social benefits centre of Zurich, so called IV-institution). Over the past 12 years the IV-institution has registered a continual increase of people receiving an IV-pension because of mental illness. In the year 2000 around 77 000 people received this contribution in Switzerland but by 2011 the amount of IV-pensioners had increased to 102 000.

Before receiving the IV-pension, the IV-institution offers several possibilities of supporting a reintegration into the competitive employment market (e.g. vocational training, intervention of apprenticeship). However, after receiving the approval for an IV-pension auxiliary measures to support a reintegration are limited. In consequence IV-pensioners may not feel sufficiently supported by the IV-insurance. During our information gatherings many IV-pensioners stated that the only thing they knew about the IV-insurance was that it provided assistance in finding sheltered work.

Most mentally ill people including IV-pensioners state that they are not keen to work in such places and would rather be integrated into competitive employment [4]. They feared that working in a sheltered work place will lead to a high risk of having to stay in this environment [6].

Furthermore, patients state that the integration into the competitive employment market leads to more self-esteem and an increased quality of life [7] due to receiving a salary as well as the chance of finding more social contacts [8]. Mentioning working in a sheltered employment also means revealing one’s illness and hence a fear of not being accepted in society [9].

The stigma associated with psychiatric disorders can have a major negative impact on individuals with mental illness. Stigma comes in two forms [10]. First, members of the general public, for example employers, can endorse negative stereotypes about people with mental illness and discriminate against them, e.g. not inviting persons with mental illness for job interviews. This is referred to as public stigma. Second, self-stigma occurs if people with mental illness agree with those negative stereotypes and turn them against themselves, undermining their self-esteem, self-efficacy and motivation to pursue life goals such as employment [11]. People with mental illness can also suffer from stigma as a stressor if they perceive stigma as a potential harm that exceeds their coping resources [12, 13].

There are two main reasons to examine stigma variables in the context of IPS [14]: (i) fear of public stigma as well as self-stigma may stop people from seeking competitive employment, therefore increased levels of stigma variables could predict less positive IPS outcomes; (ii) re-entering the workforce and the associated social roles and contacts might lead to an increased perception of social inclusion among people with mental illness, resulting in less self-stigma, perceived public stigma as well as stigma-related stress; therefore stigma variables can be assessed as secondary outcomes of IPS.

The traditional approach in rehabilitating people with mental illness has been first train, then place[15]. In this approach possible difficult situations concerning the employment are trained beforehand. After training these situations the person is placed in competitive employment. Practicing the various scenarios which could occur in the future employment is useful, but the situations in real life are generally much tougher than expected and differ from the trained situations. In many cases the job was chosen for the client, and not by the client, and was thus not suited to the client`s needs and preferences [1]. First train, then place has drawbacks, as people become ill and are not able to hold their jobs for a long time [16]. In consequence many of the people treated by this approach are only able to work in a sheltered workplace [17].

As frontline services to integrate IV-pensioners into the competitive employment market are almost non-existent, two problems emerge.

Firstly, IV-pensioners often lack the knowledge of the legal framework and are unsure about their rights. Erroneously, they commonly believe that they are not allowed to apply for a job in the competitive employment market while receiving an IV-pension. The IV-insurance is addressing this issue by providing more information to their pensioners. Secondly, pensioners grow accustomed to not working, thereby increasing the risk of further chronification. To minimize such risks this study includes only new IV-pensioners who have received an IV-pension for less than one year.

During the 1980s the concept of supported employment (SE) was developed in the USA [18] as a reaction to the inefficient first train, then place-models [19]. SE includes intensive job-search assistance for people with mental illness. Particular attention is given to the clients’ preferences and skills, to assist successful integration into the competitive employment market and to support them while working in competitive employment market [20]. In the USA this approach has been proven to be very successful [21]. However, a transfer of these methods to Europe requires certain structural changes, as Europe differs from the USA concerning job market and welfare system. In 2007 EQOLISE (Enhancing the Quality of Life and Independence of Persons Disabled by Severe Mental Illness through Supported Employment, [19]) was established. In this study, the first of its kind in Europe, participants were trained by job coaches according to the supported employment approach of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) [22]. This study was implemented in six centres across Europe. The results showed that participants assigned to the IPS group were employed more often into competitive employment as compared to the control group. In addition, the IPS participants dropped out of the study less often, and the rates of hospitalization were lower.

Moreover, EQOLISE demonstrated that working in a sheltered work place did not lead to a comparable stabilization of the affected persons [19]. A better state of mental health (e.g. lower anxiety and depression) and a more successful integration into the competitive employment market through the approach of IPS was evident [23].

The supported employment concept IPS, which was used in the EQOLISE study as well as in the study presented here, ensures the immediate support of a job coach and the direct integration into competitive employment. Job coaches support the client by searching for vacant jobs, assisting applications, as well as coaching the client in working situations [24]. If the client and employer approve, job coaches may also support the employer and the workmates.

Research need

The EQOLISE study was able to prove that the positive effects for the participants assigned to the IPS group are comparable to findings in the US. However, previous studies did not differentiate between participants with different characteristics and thus no conclusions for subgroups of clients such as persons with new-onset disability benefits can be drawn. After receiving an IV-pension the risk of further chronification of a mental illness increases over time, hence making a successful reintegration into the competitive employment market increasingly difficult.

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and will investigate the effectiveness of SE for IV-pensioners receiving the IV-pension for less than a year.

Research question

The main aim of this study is:

  1. (1)

    To determine if job coaching according to the IPS approach leads to a more successful integration of new IV-pensioners into competitive employment.

In addition, the following issues will be analyzed:

  1. (2)

    Possible enhancement of quality of life, state of mental health and level of self-esteem by finding competitive employment

  2. (3)

    Chances of maintaining an employment and increasing the workload, if the participant desires this and has the ability

  3. (4)

    Cost-benefit equation of job coaching and potential saving schemes as compared to the current handling

  4. (5)

    Predictors for a successful coaching after receiving an IV-pension

  5. (6)

    The effect of IPS on stigma variables (perceived public stigma, self-stigma, stigma stress) and recovery orientation

  6. (7)

    Stigma variables and recovery orientation as predictors of finding competitive employment during IPS

Methods/design

Time scale

To determine interest in participating in the pilot study ZHEPP, the project has been divided into two phases. The first phase was implemented to ascertain whether enough IV-pensioners were interested in participating in this study. The first phase involved the recruitment of 40 participants and those assigned to the intervention group involved in job coaching. The number of participants was easily reached and the first phase was successfully completed by the summer of 2011. The second phase was then initiated. A further 210 participants had to be recruited to reach the final sample size of 250. This recruitment took place until September 2012. After being assigned to the control or intervention group the participants will be followed up over the next two years. Hence the total duration of the study will be three years and nine months (January 2011 until end of September 2014).

Recruitment and design

Persons who recently received the approval of the IV-pension were invited to an information event. The aim was to inform about the project as well as the supported employment concept IPS. Additionally the job coaches were introduced to the potential participants.

Those interested in participating in our study had the possibility to register and were invited to an one-on-one dialog for further information. Persons who subsequently wished to participate in the study signed the informed consent and were randomized to one of the two groups (control group or the intervention group). During the following two years the participants will be interviewed every six months concerning their well-being, self-esteem, stigma and recovery variables as well as job status (T0-T4) (List of instruments see Table 1).

Table 1 Overview questionnaire based instruments
Full size table

The ZHEPP project is a randomized control trial (RCT) with two factors, group (intervention versus control group) and outcome (employment yes/no).

The participants of the intervention group are supported by a job coach according to the approach of IPS. Those randomized to the control group are not subject to any intervention by our job coaches, but are merely invited to an interview every six months. The catchment area is the canton of Zurich, Switzerland.

Sample size

The target study population consists of 250 IV-pensioners, who recently (not longer than a year) received the approval of the IV. In total, 126 persons were assigned to the intervention group, where they receive the coaching according to the IPS approach. The other 124 were assigned to the control group.

The sample size was calculated through power analysis. A medium effect size (0.42 SD) should be detected with a power of 95% at a two tailed significance level of 0.05.

Ideally, participants assigned to the intervention group can find employment in the competitive employment market and may subsequently become independent of social benefits subsequently.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria:

  • IV-pension due to a mental disorder (full or part time pension)

  • The participant does not receive the IV-pension for longer than a year

  • The IV-pensioner`s goal is to work in the competitive employment market

  • Ability to give written informed consent

  • Working age (18–60)

Exclusion criteria:

  • Organic mental disorder (-10: F0)Diagnosed to ICD

  • Mental retardation (Diagnosed to ICD-10: F7)

Interview based instruments and data collection

Based on the EQOLISE study the following instruments (German version) are used to quantify the outcome of the general well-being of the IV-pensioners. The participants are interviewed every 6 months by research workers (T0-T4).

  1. (1)

    Incentive Focus Scale (IF): assessment of the participant`s motivation [25]

  2. (2)

    Client Sociodemographic and Service Receipt Inventory (CSSRI- EU): assessment of sociodemographic facts and the medical supply [26, 27]

  3. (3)

    Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQoLP): assessment of the participant`s quality of live [28]

  4. (4)

    Symptom-Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R): assessment of the participant`s psychological symptoms [29]

  5. (5)

    Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES): assessment of the participant`s self-esteem [30]

  6. (6)

    Groningen Social Disability Scale (GSDS-II): assessment of social disabilities, fulfil their social role as expected [31]

  7. (7)

    Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF): brief assessment of social, occupational and psychological functioning of the participant [32]

  8. (8)

    Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS), 24-item short version: assessment of participant`s feeling towards him/herself and his/her life [33]

  9. (9)

    Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), German 15-item version: assessment of depressive symptoms [34]

This study will also assess stigma and recovery variables, using the following validated self-report measures administered once a year (T0, T2 and T4):

  1. (1)

    Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), 29 items [35]

  2. (2)

    Cognitive appraisal of stigma as a stressor, 8 items [12, 13]

  3. (3)

    Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Questionnaire (PDDQ), 12 items, measuring perceived public stigma [36]

Additionally, for those who worked at least one day in the last year.

Experienced discrimination at work, 5 items (Rüsch et al., unpublished). Furthermore, job preferences as well as the participant`s expectation concerning the process of finding an employment will be evaluated in the first interview (T0). Every six months (T0-T4) the current situation of employment and, if applicable, the participant`s satisfaction with his/her employment are assessed.

  1. (1)

    Client Job Status: statement of the ongoing working situation of the participant

  2. (2)

    Job Preferences: assessment of the participant`s job preferences

  3. (3)

    Indiana Job-Satisfaction/Termination Scale (IJSS/IJTS): assessment of the participant`s satisfaction with his/her employment at the beginning, while having a job and if applicable after termination of her/his contract of employment

Moreover, job coaches are required to complete the IPS-Fidelity scale [37] every three months to ensure that the standards of the IPS concept are fulfilled.

Plan of analysis

This study aims to determine, whether job coaching according to IPS enables the successful integration of IV-pensioners into competitive employment.

The total N of this study is 250 participants. Through a Bernoulli randomization the participants are assigned to either the control or the intervention group.

The intervention’s effectiveness is tested by interview based instruments (in total 16 questionnaires). Binary, nominal and interval-scaled data are collected.

A two-factor analysis of variance with the two factors group (intervention versus control group) and outcome (employment yes/no) will be conducted to control the effectiveness of the intervention. The main criterion of the two-factor analysis will be the quantity of jobs received.

As parameters vary on more than one level a simultaneous comparison in a multilevel model is carried out.

Moreover, the study contains two group comparisons. The persistence of being employed or not in both groups is examined with help of a Cox-regression.

A significance level < 0.05, thus, a confidence interval of 95% is to be achieved.

Ethics

The study was approved by the ethics committee of the canton of Zurich (KEK) und the reference number KEK-ZH-NR: 2010-0311/0. Research is carried out in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association (WMA).

Discussion

Whilst there has been research about specific age groups [16], the effect of IPS on several other groups (e.g. new recipients of disability benefits) so far has not been demonstrated. Therefore, this study will focus on the impact of IPS on newly appointed IV-pensioners. Another aim will be to identify predictors for the coaching success in IPS and the relationship between self-stigma and coaching success.

ZHEPP is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants of the study are randomized to either the control group or the intervention group. We hypothesize that job coaching according to IPS will lead to a more successful integration of new IV-pensioners into competitive employment. If our hypothesis is supported, IPS may in the future be offered to new Swiss IV-pensioners on a routine basis.

Abbreviations

ZHEPP:

Zürcher Eingliederungs Pilot Projekt engl.: Zurich integration pilot project

EQOLISE:

Enhancing the Quality of Life and Independence of Persons Disabled by Severe Mental Illness through Supported Employment

IV-pension:

Pension for disabled person

SVA:

Sozialversicherungsanstalt social contribution centre of Zurich

SE:

Supported Employment

IPS:

Individual Placement and Support

RCT:

Randomized control trial

KEK:

Ethics committee of canton Zurich.

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Acknowledgement

The ZHEPP study is funded by a grant from the Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV). We are grateful for the assistance by the SVA Zurich, especially to Jean-Claude Beer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital for Psychiatry, Militärstrasse 8, 8021, Zurich, Switzerland

    Bettina Bärtsch, Caitriona Obermann, Nicolas Rüsch & Wolfram Kawohl

  2. University of Zurich, Militärstrasse 8, 8021, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sandra Viering, Wulf Rössler & Wolfram Kawohl

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Correspondence to Wolfram Kawohl.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

WK, BB, NR, and WR were responsible for the conception of the project and drafting the first study proposal. SV wrote the first draft and SV, WK and CO were involved in writing the manuscript. All authors critically revised and approved the final manuscript.

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Viering, S., Bärtsch, B., Obermann, C. et al. The effectiveness of individual placement and support for people with mental illness new on social benefits: a study protocol. BMC Psychiatry 13, 195 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-195

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