For this study, a systematic review was carried out to select 50 from 917 overseas studies and determine the types, effects and trends of diagnostic groups and interventions, in order to understand vocational rehabilitation in the area of occupational therapy for people with mental disorders between 2000 and 2019.
According to the results of the study, regarding diagnostic groups contained in the study, schizophrenia with 36 papers occupied the highest portion among four diagnoses. Looking into vocational rehabilitation for each of the five types of interventions, 26 papers, the largest, were about supported employment, followed by 15 about social skills and cognitive rehabilitation training plus supported employment and three for each regarding social skills and cognitive rehabilitation training, other vocational approaches, and social skills and cognitive rehabilitation training plus other occupational approaches. Regarding studies showing effects in the employment rate by interventions type following three types of employment (competitive, non-competitive and paid), as the largest number of studies, 20 papers were about supported employment in competitive employment, two were about social skills and cognitive rehabilitation training in non-competitive employment and five about supported employment in paid employment. Regarding research tendencies, studies containing supported employment aiming at competitive employment in integrated working environments have been steadily conducted. For the five most recent years, in particular, only studies regarding social skills and cognitive rehabilitation training plus supported employment have increased owing to efforts to stabilize employment results.
Through this study, it could be determined that comprehensive approaches are necessary among mental health services regarding symptoms, vocational rehabilitation services and continuous individual customized case management and social services, in order to improve the effects of vocational rehabilitation for mentally disabled persons. In the future, in-depth studies should be carried out on assessment systems to monitor policies and effects for providing systematic and comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services for the nation’s mentally handicapped.