Examining work delay in young adults with schizophrenia

Work delay as a dimension of work restoration in young adults with schizophrenia has not been explored with much frequency in the vocational rehabilitation literature; and it has never been explored and analyzed from the subjective experience of the person with the disorder. In this exploratory, mixed-method study of 20 first-episode young adults diagnosed with schizophrenia who returned to work, there were many dimensions to explore with in-depth interviews about the process of work re-engagement. However, it was a striking finding that the length of time to first job ranged from 1-65 months. There are several possible correlates in the literature to consider when looking at work delay. This study yielded qualitative themes that were mostly congruent with the literature and were split between illness-related factors (e.g., symptoms, medication side-effects) and non-illness-related factors (e.g., childcare, job training). In addition, messages from mental health professionals and families about returning to work and fears related to symptom return on the job were prominent themes in this study. Implications for psychosocial rehabilitation and career counseling interventions are discussed. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC