Access and outcomes for persons with psychotic and affective disorders receiving vocational rehabilitation services.

Objective: This study examined the extent to which individuals with psychotic and affective disorders have access to vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and their employment and entitlement outcomes relative to persons with other disabilities.

Methods: National Rehabilitation Services Administration data were used for individuals who applied for VR services and whose cases were closed in 2005-2007. The sample included persons with psychotic disorders (N=59,137), affective disorders (N=153,859), and other disabilities (N=652,829).

Results: Persons with psychiatric disabilities were less likely to get full access to VR services and had lower competitive employment rates at case closure compared with those with other disabilities.

Conclusions: Individuals with psychotic and affective disorders had less access to the full complement of VR services and poorer outcomes. Implications include the need for additional training of VR providers to help them better meet the vocational needs of this population and greater support from mental health providers.