{"id":16149,"date":"2018-08-20T19:39:19","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipsworks.org\/?page_id=16149"},"modified":"2026-01-07T14:57:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:57:28","slug":"evidence-for-ips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ipsworks.org\/index.php\/evidence-for-ips\/","title":{"rendered":"Evidence for IPS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Evidence for IPS<\/h1><\/div>
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Work is the best treatment <\/strong><\/span>we have for serious mental illness (i.e., people with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar, or depression).\u00a0Two-thirds of people with serious mental illness want to work but only 15% are employed. They see work as an essential part of recovery. Being productive is a basic human need. Working can both be a way out of poverty and prevent entry into the disability system.\u00a0Competitive employment has a positive impact on self-esteem, life satisfaction, and reducing symptoms (Luciano, Bond, & Drake, 2014).<\/p>\n

Until the 1990s, no models were effective in helping people with serious mental illness get stable competitive employment. Even today, only 2% of people who could benefit have access to effective employment services.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Resources<\/h1><\/div>
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Evidence for IPS (July 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Evidence for IPS PowerPoint: Reference List (July 2022) <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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IPS Research: PowerPoint (January 2026)<\/p>\n<\/div>

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August 2025 Update<\/span><\/p><\/h2><\/span>

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In this recording, Ana Carolina Florence, Ph.D, provides an IPS research update. A copy of the slide deck can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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28 Randomized Controlled Trials<\/h1><\/div>
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The number of studies showing IPS effectiveness continues to grow. To date, 28 randomized controlled trials of IPS (See Recommended Readings below) have showed a significant advantage for IPS. Across the 28 studies, IPS showed an average competitive employment rate of 55% compared to 25% of controls. A meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials found that people receiving IPS services were 2.4 times more likely to be employed than controls (Modini, 2016).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"People in IPS attain employment faster, hold their jobs for longer, and work more hours. In 4 randomized controlled trials, over an 18-month period, approximately 3 times as many people receiving IPS services achieved employment and worked more hours, and people receiving IPS services worked overall four times as many hours compared to controls.<\/p>\n

IPS is more effective than alternative vocational approaches regardless of a variety of client background factors (e.g., ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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Researchers continue to explore the applicability of IPS in target subgroups and new populations.<\/span><\/h2><\/span>
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