Matthew J Smith1, Michael F Fleming2, Michael A Wright3, Andrea G Roberts4, Laura Boteler Humm5, Dale Olsen5, Morris D Bell6. 1. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Warren Wright Adolescent Center, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: matthewsmith@northwestern.edu. 2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. 3. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA. 4. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Warren Wright Adolescent Center, Chicago, IL, USA. 5. SIMmersion LLC, Columbia, MD, USA. 6. Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veteran Affairs, West Haven, CT, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Individuals with schizophrenia have low employment rates and the job interview presents a critical barrier for them to obtain employment. Virtual reality training has demonstrated efficacy at improving interview skills and employment outcomes among multiple clinical populations. However, the effects of this training on individuals with schizophrenia are unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT) at improving job interview skills and employment outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia in a small randomized controlled trial (n=21 VR-JIT trainees, n=11 waitlist controls). METHODS: Trainees completed up to 10h of virtual interviews using VR-JIT, while controls received services as usual. Primary outcome measures included two pre-test and two post-test video-recorded role-play interviews scored by blinded raters with expertise in human resources and self-reported interviewing self-confidence. Six-month follow-up data on employment outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Trainees reported that the intervention was easy-to-use, helpful, and prepared them for future interviews. Trainees demonstrated increased role-play scores between pre-test and post-test while controls did not (p=0.001). After accounting for neurocognition and months since prior employment, trainees had greater odds of receiving a job offer by 6month follow-up compared to controls (OR: 8.73, p=0.04) and more training was associated with fewer weeks until receiving a job offer (r=-0.63, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that VR-JIT is acceptable to trainees and may be efficacious for improving job interview skills in individuals with schizophrenia. Moreover, trainees had greater odds of receiving a job offer by 6-month follow-up. Future studies could evaluate the effectiveness of VR-JIT within community-based services.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Individuals with schizophrenia have low employment rates and the job interview presents a critical barrier for them to obtain employment. Virtual reality training has demonstrated efficacy at improving interview skills and employment outcomes among multiple clinical populations. However, the effects of this training on individuals with schizophrenia are unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT) at improving job interview skills and employment outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia in a small randomized controlled trial (n=21 VR-JIT trainees, n=11 waitlist controls). METHODS: Trainees completed up to 10h of virtual interviews using VR-JIT, while controls received services as usual. Primary outcome measures included two pre-test and two post-test video-recorded role-play interviews scored by blinded raters with expertise in human resources and self-reported interviewing self-confidence. Six-month follow-up data on employment outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Trainees reported that the intervention was easy-to-use, helpful, and prepared them for future interviews. Trainees demonstrated increased role-play scores between pre-test and post-test while controls did not (p=0.001). After accounting for neurocognition and months since prior employment, trainees had greater odds of receiving a job offer by 6month follow-up compared to controls (OR: 8.73, p=0.04) and more training was associated with fewer weeks until receiving a job offer (r=-0.63, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that VR-JIT is acceptable to trainees and may be efficacious for improving job interview skills in individuals with schizophrenia. Moreover, trainees had greater odds of receiving a job offer by 6-month follow-up. Future studies could evaluate the effectiveness of VR-JIT within community-based services.
Authors: Sara Martínez-Domínguez; Rafael Penadés; Bàrbara Segura; Alexandre González-Rodríguez; Rosa Catalán Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2014-12-18 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Gabriela Vargas; Martin Strassnig; Samir Sabbag; Felicia Gould; Dante Durand; Laura Stone; Thomas L Patterson; Philip D Harvey Journal: Schizophr Res Cogn Date: 2014-03
Authors: Jane K Burke-Miller; Judith A Cook; Dennis D Grey; Lisa A Razzano; Crystal R Blyler; H Stephen Leff; Paul B Gold; Richard W Goldberg; Kim T Mueser; William L Cook; Sue K Hoppe; Michelle Stewart; Laura Blankertz; Kenn Dudek; Amanda L Taylor; Martha Ann Carey Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2006-04
Authors: Matthew J Smith; Emily J Ginger; Michael Wright; Katherine Wright; Laura Boteler Humm; Dale Olsen; Morris D Bell; Michael F Fleming Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Matthew J Smith; William P Horan; Derin J Cobia; Tatiana M Karpouzian; Jaclyn M Fox; James L Reilly; Hans C Breiter Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2013-06-14 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Robert Rosenheck; Douglas Leslie; Richard Keefe; Joseph McEvoy; Marvin Swartz; Diana Perkins; Scott Stroup; John K Hsiao; Jeffrey Lieberman Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Matthew J Smith; Rogério M Pinto; Leann Dawalt; J D Smith; Kari Sherwood; Rashun Miles; Julie Taylor; Kara Hume; Tamara Dawkins; Mary Baker-Ericzén; Thomas Frazier; Laura Humm; Chris Steacy Journal: Res Autism Spectr Disord Date: 2019-12-12
Authors: Peter W Tuerk; Cindy M Schaeffer; Joseph F McGuire; Margo Adams Larsen; Nicole Capobianco; John Piacentini Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2019-10-04 Impact factor: 5.285
Authors: Matthew J Smith; Andrea K Graham; Rachel Sax; E-Shawn Spencer; Lisa A Razzano; Justin D Smith; Neil Jordan Journal: J Eval Clin Pract Date: 2019-10-20 Impact factor: 2.431
Authors: Matthew J Smith; Justin D Smith; Michael F Fleming; Neil Jordan; Eugene A Oulvey; Morris D Bell; Kim T Mueser; Susan R McGurk; E-Shawn Spencer; Kimberly Mailey; Lisa A Razzano Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2018-12-18 Impact factor: 2.261
Authors: Matthew J Smith; Kari Sherwood; Brittany Ross; Justin D Smith; Leann DaWalt; Lauren Bishop; Laura Humm; Jeff Elkins; Chris Steacy Journal: Autism Date: 2021-02-10