[Individual placement and support in mental health services: evaluation of routine clinical data using a retrospective chart review].

Background: People with severe mental illnesses are often excluded from working life and would like support to (re)enter the general labor market as part of the psychiatric treatment. Individual placement and support (IPS) is an effective method of finding and retaining work in the general labor market. The aim of the study was to determine the integration rates of IPS into the general labor market in acute and postacute psychiatric settings, identifying patient, setting and program characteristics associated with (re)entering work.

Method: A retrospective chart review (RCR) of routine clinical data between 2016 and 2021 was carried out. The IPS program adherence was rated using the IPS fidelity scale.

Results: A total of 375 patients participated in the IPS with at least 4 appointments. The (re)integration rate into the general labor market was 51.7%. A shorter time period to the last working day, diagnosis of F1, F2, F3 (vs. F4), change of treatment setting and IPS in the psychiatric institute outpatient department (PIA), IPS fidelity and the number of IPS coaching sessions were positively correlated with (re)integration into work.

Conclusion: The implementation of IPS in clinical mental healthcare is possible and leads to high integration rates in the open labor market. An early start of IPS during the clinical treatment can promote social inclusion.