Perspectives of hospitalized patients with mental disorders and their clinicians on vocational goals, barriers, and steps to overcome barriers

Abstract

Background: People with mental disorders experience difficulties with finding competitive jobs. In countries with longer psychiatric hospitalization periods, the vocational rehabilitation process can start during hospitalization. Yet, rehabilitation can be hindered by a lack of focus by clinicians on the patients’ vocational goals and a lack of agreement between clinicians and patients.

Aims: To compare (i) vocational goals, (ii) barriers to employment and (iii) support needed to overcome barriers faced by patients.

Method: The paired data-set comprised 733 hospitalized patients and their 279 clinicians. Patients selected their vocational goals and clinicians indicated options that seemed realistic. Patients and clinicians indicated how many barriers exist and what support is needed to overcome barriers.

Results: Almost 45% of patients prefer competitive jobs, while 32% of clinicians find this realistic, indicating a moderate relationship between patients’ goals and clinicians’ perceptions. Patients and clinicians also differ in their perception of the level of barriers and types of support to overcome them. Patients perceive fewer vocational barriers than clinicians and prefer less intense vocational support options.

Conclusions: Patients and clinicians have different perspectives concerning vocational recovery. Improving vocational rehabilitation requires a stronger alignment between patients and clinicians’ vocational goals and barriers.

• Clinician
• hospitalized patients
• vocational rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all professionals and hospital boards for their support and involvement, i.e. Centre for psychiatry and psychotherapy Kliniek Sint-Jozef at Pittem, Mental Health Care Kempen, Psychiatric hospital Bethaniënhuis, vzw Emmaüs at Zoersel, Psychiatric Centre O.L.V. van Vrede at Menen, Psychiatric Centre Sint-Amandus at Beernem, Psychiatric hospital Heilige Familie at Kortrijk, Psychiatric hospital Heilig Hart at Ieper.

Special thanks to all individuals who helped with developing the questionnaire.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Supplementary material available online

Supplementary Tables 1-3.