Helping young people with early psychosis navigate disability benefits
Optimizing Disability Benefit Decisions and Outcomes in First Episode Psychosis
This project looks at how Social Security disability benefits affect young people (about 16–30) getting treatment after a first episode of psychosis to help improve decisions and long-term outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190994 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are 16–30 and receiving coordinated specialty care after a first episode of psychosis, researchers will use data from 101 clinics across 16 states to learn how decisions about SSI/DI are made and how they shape work, identity, and health over time. The team will combine clinic records, surveys, and follow-up interviews to track who applies for or uses disability benefits and what happens afterward. They will analyze these patterns to identify supports or barriers to career development and access to services. The results will be used to create practical strategies and tools to help you and your care team make benefit decisions that fit your goals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young people (about 16–30) receiving coordinated specialty care for a first episode of psychosis, particularly those considering or enrolled in SSI/DI, are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People who are older, have long-standing chronic psychosis, are not in EPINET/coordinated specialty care programs, or are not eligible for SSA benefits may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could give young people and their care teams clearer guidance and tools to make disability benefit choices that better protect health and vocational goals.
How similar studies have performed: Research has examined Social Security disability broadly, but few large longitudinal efforts focus specifically on outcomes after a first episode of psychosis, so this is a relatively novel, scaled effort.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldman, Howard H — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Goldman, Howard H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.