Career counseling and development for veterans with psychiatric disorders
Improving Vocational Outcomes of Veterans With Psychiatric Disorders: Career Counseling & Development
NA · VA Office of Research and Development · NCT04698967
This study is testing a new career counseling program for veterans with mental health issues to see if it helps them find and keep jobs better.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 76 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development (fed) |
| Locations | 1 site (Bedford, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT04698967 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to improve vocational outcomes for veterans with psychiatric disorders by developing a comprehensive career counseling and development manual called Purposeful Pathways. The approach involves an iterative process that includes reviewing existing vocational rehabilitation procedures, conducting focus groups with veterans and mental health providers, and creating a fidelity monitoring checklist to ensure adherence to the new protocol. The study will assess the effectiveness of these interventions in enhancing employment engagement and job tenure among veterans. By addressing intrinsic barriers to employment, the study seeks to increase the utilization of vocational services offered by the Veterans Health Administration.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are veterans with psychiatric disorders who are either unemployed or underemployed and are eligible for transitional work experience.
Not a fit: Patients who are not currently experiencing psychiatric disorders or those who are already successfully employed may not receive benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly enhance employment opportunities and job satisfaction for veterans with psychiatric disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success in improving vocational outcomes for veterans through targeted interventions, suggesting that this approach has potential.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1) eligibility for, and planning to enroll in TW, or within 16 weeks of having enrolled in TW, 2) the presence of a current psychiatric disorder of PTSD, Mood Disorders (e.g., Bipolar Disorders, Major Depression), Anxiety-Related Disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Psychotic Disorders (e.g., Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder), Substance Use Disorders (e.g., Alcohol, Opioid, Cannabis, Cocaine, Sedative, Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic, Other Stimulants), which is indicated by an ICD-10 diagnosis encounter in the participants VA medical record within the last six months, inputted by a licensed mental health provider (psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, psychiatric nurse practitioner), 3) self-identification as either unemployed, underemployed (self-report of falling into one of five categories: overeducated, job-education mismatch, skill underutilization, being involuntarily engaged in part-time, temporary, or intermittent employment \[i.e., hours underemployed\], or earning wages in a job that are 20% less compared to a previous job, or for recent college graduates, earning wages that are 20% less compared to graduating peers of similar education/training \[i.e., pay underemployment\]. \[13\]), or self-report that they are employed but functioning poorly at work as a result of mental illness or substance use, 4) self-identification as not being on leave from a job for which there are arrangements to return to their job following the completion of TW, 5) having plans to work for three years beyond the end of this study, and 6) competency to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1) acute suicide/homicide risk requiring treatment focused on safety to self or others based on self-report of current and active thoughts of harm to self or others with intent and plan that requires crisis stabilization in an acute psychiatric unit, 2) being not otherwise eligible for TW services, 3) current enrollment in CWT's supported employment services, 4) Symptom Checklist-6 \[14\] score greater than 26, 5) Veterans RAND-12 (VR-12) physical component score \[15\] less than 12, and VR-12 mental composite score \[15\] less than 8, 6) improbability that participant will complete the study for the following reasons: expected deployment, expected incarceration, expected long-term hospitalization, or expected relocation from the vicinity of the participating VA during the study period, and 7) unwillingness to engage in a weekly career development intervention.
Where this trial is running
Bedford, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA — Bedford, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Brian J Stevenson, PhD — VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA
- Study coordinator: Brian J Stevenson, PhD
- Email: Brian.Stevenson4@va.gov
- Phone: (718) 687-3919
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Unemployment, rehabilitation, vocational