Furthering the Evidence of the Effectiveness of Employment Strategies for People with Mental Disorders in Europe: A Systematic Review

Amalia Muñoz-Murillo, Eva Esteban, Carolina C. Ávila, Klemens Fheodoroff, Josep Maria Haro, Matilde Leonardi and Beatriz Olaya
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Amalia Muñoz-Murillo: Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08830 Barcelona, Spain
Eva Esteban: Department of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research, Research Unit for Biopsychosocial Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany
Carolina C. Ávila: Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and CIBER of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain
Klemens Fheodoroff: Gailtal Klinik—Neurologische Rehabilitation, A-9620 Hermagor, Austria
Josep Maria Haro: Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08830 Barcelona, Spain
Matilde Leonardi: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, 20133 Milan, Italy
Beatriz Olaya: Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08830 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: (1) Purpose: This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of strategies used in the professional (re)integration of persons with mental disorders (MD) in European countries; (2) Methods: We conducted a search for scientific publications available in relevant electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CDR-HTA, CDR-DARE, and Cochrane Library). The present study collected evidence on the effectiveness, from 2011 to 2016, of employment strategies for persons with MDs; (3) Results: A total of 18 studies were included, representing 5216 participants (aged 18–65, mean age of 38.5 years old) from 7 countries. Job access programs demonstrated effectiveness in four out of six studies. Return to work (RTW) interventions showed significant positive results in two studies, while four studies did not refer to effectiveness. There were inconsistent results in another four studies; (4) Conclusions: Our findings highlight the complexities of the implementation of employment strategies (job access and return to work). Job access strategies seem to improve employment outcomes. The effectiveness of return to work strategies remains unclear. The involvement and commitment of physicians, employment specialists, and employers, and employees capacity for self-care seem decisive for employment re-integration success. Further analyses are needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of these interventions and corroborate our results, with longer follow-ups.

Keywords: systematic review; effectiveness; job access strategies; return to work; mental health; Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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