Internet Assisted Career-Oriented Soft-skills Training for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Conditions (iCareer)

Rutgers The State University of New Jersey

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Occupational Problems; Mental Health Wellness 1; Mental Health Wellness 2

Treatments: Behavioral: iCareer Soft Skills Training for Employment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05766280

90IFRE0071 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

2022001761

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 126 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16 to 24 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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126 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Soft Skills Training Intervention via telehealth

Treatment:

Behavioral: iCareer Soft Skills Training for Employment

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Treatment as Usual (TAU)