Study Details | Pathways to Work

6680-Study of Work-Relate

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a high-attrition randomized controlled trial that does not demonstrate that the program and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the program.

Program: Work-Related Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (WCBT)

Characteristics of study participants:

Homelessness, Mental health condition, Unemployed

Services provided:

Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Mental health services, Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives

Setting: Urban only

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 1.0

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Study design

Design:

Randomized controlled trial

Study group formation:

The study recruited homeless, unemployed individuals with social anxiety disorder who were seeking vocational services. Eligible participants were assembled into cohorts of two to seven individuals, and cohorts were randomly assigned to the program or comparison groups. In total, 29 individuals were assigned to the program group, and 29 individuals were assigned to the comparison group.

Time period of study:

Enrollment occurred between May 2010 and December 2011, and follow-up concluded in March 2012.

Pathways to Work only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample characteristics

Age

Mean age

44 years

Sex

Female	33%
Male	67%

Race and ethnicity

Black or African American	86%
White	10%
More than one race	3%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

Family status

Married

16%

Employment and public benefit status

Were unemployed

100%

Education

Had some postsecondary education	24%
Had a high school diploma or GED	60%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	40%
Postsecondary credential	5%

Specific employment barriers

Had a mental illness	100%
Had a substance abuse disorder	74%
Were experiencing homelessness	100%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Jewish Vocational Services in Detroit

Program services:

Participants assigned to the program condition were eligible to receive 16 hours of WCBT over the course of four weeks. WCBT was delivered in two-hour sessions, held twice weekly. Sessions focused on psychoeducational topics related to work, social skills education, and navigating work with a social anxiety disorder. Participants in the program group could also receive typical vocational services from Jewish Vocational Services Detroit.

Mandatory services:

None.

Comparison services:

Comparison group members could receive typical vocational services from Jewish Vocational Services Detroit but not WCBT.

Study publications

Himle, Joseph, Deborah Bybee, Edward Steinberger, Wayne T. Laviolette, Addie Weaver, Sarah Vlnka, Zipora Golenberg, Debra S. Levine, Richard G. Heimberg, and Lisa A. O'Donnell (2014). Work-related CBT versus vocational services as usual for unemployed persons with social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled pilot trial, Behaviour Research and Therapy 63: 169-176. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4416073/.

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Study of Work-Related Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (WCBT)