Recent research on vocational rehabilitation for persons with severe mental illness

Purpose of review This review examines the 2002 literature on vocational services for people with psychiatric disabilities. Recent findings Vocational rehabilitation has emerged as a mainstream intervention in community mental health, and supported employment has become an evidence-based practice. In addition to clarifying and confirming the effectiveness and principles of supported employment, the literature describes clients' needs, innovative modifications of supported employment for special groups, the subjective experiences and non-vocational outcomes of clients related to employment, impacts of the Americans with Disabilities Act, costs of vocational services, cultural disparities, and the development of vocational services in other countries. Summary Increasing demands for employment services and for empirical outcomes influence clinical practice. Supported employment has by far the strongest evidence base of any vocational intervention for people with psychiatric disabilities and continues to be disseminated rapidly. Further research is needed to clarify the principles, impacts, and modifications of supported employment.