Characteristics associated with duration of employment of persons with schizophrenia after first contact with psychiatric services

Abstract

The aim was to explore the demographic and clinical characteristics influencing the duration of employment after onset of schizophrenia. Occupational history was assessed in persons with schizophrenia (n=102) requesting the status of disabled person for the first time. Multivariate analyses were used to explore the characteristics independently associated with duration of work after the first contact with psychiatric services. Duration of employment was categorized into "never worked", "worked less than half of the time", "worked half of the time or more". More than half of patients never worked after the first contact with psychiatric services. Compared to them, persons who were employed half of the time or more were more likely to have a higher educational level and a long duration of employment before illness onset. Persons who were employed less than half of the time presented with clinical markers of poor prognosis, i.e. higher frequency of alcohol use disorder and higher number of hospitalisations. Persons unable to keep enduring employment after illness onset may have different needs regarding social and rehabilitation management compared to those able to maintain a working activity over a long period.