Clinical trial NCT05766280: Internet Assisted Career-Oriented Soft-skills Training for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Conditions
Official title: Internet Assisted Career-Oriented Soft-skills Training (iCareer) for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Conditions: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Mental Health Wellness 1
Mental Health Wellness 2
Occupational Problems
Keywords: transition age youth
mental health conditions
employment
Lead sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-03-13
Enrollment: 126
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 16
Maximum age (years): 24
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Intervention model description: Randomized Controlled Trial
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an internet- assisted Career-Oriented Work-Related Soft-skills Training (iCareer) intervention, infused with cognitive behavioral therapy, targeting individuals ages 16-24 with mental health conditions, to improve employment outcomes. The overall objective is to help transition-age youth (TAY) with psychiatric disabilities achieve optimal employment outcomes as part of successful transition to adulthood. Findings will have implications for enhancing and developing pre-employment services for TAY with psychiatric disabilities.

Detailed description: The investigators propose to perform an open trial research study directed toward producing new knowledge about the Direct Skills Teaching intervention for employment related interpersonal "soft" skills. Soft skills are generally defined as social, emotional, interpersonal, adaptive, and problem-solving skills (Grugulis et al., 2009). The investigators will examine the feasibility of integrated Direct Skills Training modules in social, emotional, interpersonal, adaptive, and problem-solving skills (Soft Skills at Work (SSW)) on improving employment participation and success among transition age youth and young adults (TAY) with disabilities ages 18-24.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between 16 and 24 years
2. Must speak English fluently
3. Receiving Individualized Education Program (IEP)/504 Plan or disability services within the past 24 months with primary disability types of psychiatric disability
4. No hospitalizations or suicide attempts within the past 2 months
5. Willing to provide informed consent (if younger than 18, parental consent) to participate in the study
6. Interested in improving work-related social skills

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current presence of neurological disease or brain injury
2. Psychiatric instability such as gross psychosis or acute suicidality
3. Current alcohol or substance dependence
4. Hospitalization or suicide attempts in the past 2 months

Primary outcomes:
measure: Higher Rates of Employment
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Higher Number of Hours Worked
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Increased Wages Earned
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Improved Job Related Social Skills
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Reduced Depressive Symptoms
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Improved Functional Status
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Reduced Mental Illness Stigma
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Increased Work Empowerment
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Increased Job Satisfaction
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
measure: Increased Job Motivation
timeFrame: 12 months post intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Newark
country: United States
facility: Rutgers Univeristy, Newark- Office of Disability Services
state: New Jersey
Study officials:
affiliation: Rutgers University, School of Health Professions
name: Weili Lu, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: