Abstract Objective To assess the effectiveness of an individual placement and support (IPS) strategy in people with severe mental disorders in Tenerife Island (Spain). Methods Patients of Community Mental Health Services with severe mental disorders were randomly assigned to two groups. One of them received IPS (n=124), and the control group (n=75) was advised in the usual job search. Patients were followed up for an average of 3.4 years and an analysis was made of how many patients worked at least one day, working hours, wages, the number of contracts and the number of hospital admissions. Non-parametric methods were used to compare the results (Mann-Whitney U test). Results The percentage of patients who worked at least one day was 99% in the IPS group compared with 75% in the control group; they worked on average 30.1 weeks per year vs 7.4; the monthly salary was € 777.9 vs € 599.9; the number of contracts per person was 3.89 vs 4.85, and hospital admissions were 0.19 vs 2.1. Conclusions The IPS strategy is effective for the labour integration of people with severe mental illness getting them to work longer, have higher wages and fewer hospital admissions.

Resumen Objetivo Valorar la efectividad de una estrategia de apoyo individualizado al empleo (IPS) en personas con enfermedad mental grave en la isla de Tenerife (España). Método Pacientes de los Servicios de Salud Mental Comunitaria con trastornos mentales graves fueron asignados a dos grupos de forma aleatorizada. En uno de ellos se aplicó el método IPS (n=124) y en el grupo control (n=75) se asesoró en la manera habitual de búsqueda de empleo. Los pacientes fueron seguidos una media de 3,4 años y se analizó cuántos trabajaron al menos un día, el tiempo trabajado, los salarios, el número de contratos y el número de admisiones hospitalarias. Se usaron métodos estadísticos no paramétricos en la comparación de resultados (U de Mann-Whitney). Resultados Los pacientes asignados al grupo IPS trabajaron al menos un día el 99%, frente al 75% del grupo control; trabajaron de media 30,1 semanas/año vs. 7,4; el salario mensual fue de 777,9 euros vs. 599,9 euros; el número de contratos por persona fue de 3,89vs. 4,85, y los ingresos hospitalarios fueron 0,19 vs. 2,1. Conclusión La estrategia IPS es efectiva en la integración laboral de personas con enfermedad mental grave, logrando que trabajen más tiempo, tengan mayor salario y menos ingresos hospitalarios, en un contexto social de alto desempleo.

Abstract Objective To assess the effectiveness of an individual placement and support (IPS) strategy in people with severe mental disorders in Tenerife Island (Spain). Methods Patients of Community Mental Health Services with severe mental disorders were randomly assigned to two groups. One of them received IPS (n=124), and the control group (n=75) was advised in the usual job search. Patients were followed up for an average of 3.4 years and an analysis was made of how many patients worked at least one day, working hours, wages, the number of contracts and the number of hospital admissions. Non-parametric methods were used to compare the results (Mann-Whitney U test). Results The percentage of patients who worked at least one day was 99% in the IPS group compared with 75% in the control group; they worked on average 30.1 weeks per year vs 7.4; the monthly salary was € 777.9 vs € 599.9; the number of contracts per person was 3.89 vs 4.85, and hospital admissions were 0.19 vs 2.1. Conclusions The IPS strategy is effective for the labour integration of people with severe mental illness getting them to work longer, have higher wages and fewer hospital admissions.

Resumen Objetivo Valorar la efectividad de una estrategia de apoyo individualizado al empleo (IPS) en personas con enfermedad mental grave en la isla de Tenerife (España). Método Pacientes de los Servicios de Salud Mental Comunitaria con trastornos mentales graves fueron asignados a dos grupos de forma aleatorizada. En uno de ellos se aplicó el método IPS (n=124) y en el grupo control (n=75) se asesoró en la manera habitual de búsqueda de empleo. Los pacientes fueron seguidos una media de 3,4 años y se analizó cuántos trabajaron al menos un día, el tiempo trabajado, los salarios, el número de contratos y el número de admisiones hospitalarias. Se usaron métodos estadísticos no paramétricos en la comparación de resultados (U de Mann-Whitney). Resultados Los pacientes asignados al grupo IPS trabajaron al menos un día el 99%, frente al 75% del grupo control; trabajaron de media 30,1 semanas/año vs. 7,4; el salario mensual fue de 777,9 euros vs. 599,9 euros; el número de contratos por persona fue de 3,89vs. 4,85, y los ingresos hospitalarios fueron 0,19 vs. 2,1. Conclusión La estrategia IPS es efectiva en la integración laboral de personas con enfermedad mental grave, logrando que trabajen más tiempo, tengan mayor salario y menos ingresos hospitalarios, en un contexto social de alto desempleo.

Abstract Objective To assess the effectiveness of an individual placement and support (IPS) strategy in people with severe mental disorders in Tenerife Island (Spain). Methods Patients of Community Mental Health Services with severe mental disorders were randomly assigned to two groups. One of them received IPS (n=124), and the control group (n=75) was advised in the usual job search. Patients were followed up for an average of 3.4 years and an analysis was made of how many patients worked at least one day, working hours, wages, the number of contracts and the number of hospital admissions. Non-parametric methods were used to compare the results (Mann-Whitney U test). Results The percentage of patients who worked at least one day was 99% in the IPS group compared with 75% in the control group; they worked on average 30.1 weeks per year vs 7.4; the monthly salary was € 777.9 vs € 599.9; the number of contracts per person was 3.89 vs 4.85, and hospital admissions were 0.19 vs 2.1. Conclusions The IPS strategy is effective for the labour integration of people with severe mental illness getting them to work longer, have higher wages and fewer hospital admissions.

Resumen Objetivo Valorar la efectividad de una estrategia de apoyo individualizado al empleo (IPS) en personas con enfermedad mental grave en la isla de Tenerife (España). Método Pacientes de los Servicios de Salud Mental Comunitaria con trastornos mentales graves fueron asignados a dos grupos de forma aleatorizada. En uno de ellos se aplicó el método IPS (n=124) y en el grupo control (n=75) se asesoró en la manera habitual de búsqueda de empleo. Los pacientes fueron seguidos una media de 3,4 años y se analizó cuántos trabajaron al menos un día, el tiempo trabajado, los salarios, el número de contratos y el número de admisiones hospitalarias. Se usaron métodos estadísticos no paramétricos en la comparación de resultados (U de Mann-Whitney). Resultados Los pacientes asignados al grupo IPS trabajaron al menos un día el 99%, frente al 75% del grupo control; trabajaron de media 30,1 semanas/año vs. 7,4; el salario mensual fue de 777,9 euros vs. 599,9 euros; el número de contratos por persona fue de 3,89vs. 4,85, y los ingresos hospitalarios fueron 0,19 vs. 2,1. Conclusión La estrategia IPS es efectiva en la integración laboral de personas con enfermedad mental grave, logrando que trabajen más tiempo, tengan mayor salario y menos ingresos hospitalarios, en un contexto social de alto desempleo.

Background and Objectives: The greatest predictor of eventual suicide is parasuicide. The aim of this research was to identify the clinical features that can identify people with high parasuicide purpose among a parasuicidal population. Methods: A total of 48 persons who had commited a parasuicide episode 2-6 years after, were interviewed and classified according Research Diagnostic Criteria. During the interviews, socio-demographic data and psychopathological features were picked up through several scales. Scores on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and The Plutchick Impulsivity Scale (PI) were measured. These persons were then followed-up for two years. Results: At follow-up, eight persons (16,7%) had repeated at least one parasuicide act. On comparison of repeaters and no repeaters, a higher significant differences in the final values reported in BHS was found but not significative differences were founded in the BAI, BHS or PI scores or in the proportion of the different mental illness (according RDC). An interesting finding is that in the repeaters group the average value in the IP scale tended to be lower than in the non-repeaters, although not significant. A high percentage (72.8%) related the existence of negative vital events with their suicide attempt, more often, relationship problems with the spouse (42.8%), with their parents (17.1%) or the breakdown of an interpersonal relationship (14.2%). Conclusions: In persons who have a past history of previous parasuicides, a high value in BHS is associated with the risk of repetition in the subsequent two years.