Expanding Individual Placement and Support to Populations With Conditions and Disorders Other Than Serious Mental Illness

What is it about?

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an employment intervention that is effective in helping people with serious mental illness achieve competitive employment. Researchers have recently extended IPS to other populations: people with psychiatric disorders other than serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and musculoskeletal/neurological disorders. In a systematic review of IPS studies in other populations, the authors located nine controlled trials. Eight studies favored IPS on competitive employment rate and other employment outcomes. Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder especially benefited from IPS. The authors concluded that IPS is a promising employment intervention for several populations in addition to people with serious mental illnesses, but more research is needed.

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