Processes of task performance as measured by the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS): A predictor of work-related outcomes for adults with schizophrenia?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Haslam, Julie^; | Pépin, Geneviève | Bourbonnais, Renée | Grignon, Sylvain

Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada | Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada | Occupational Science and Therapy Program, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia | Rehabilitation Department, Medicine Faculty, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada | Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Julie Haslam, Réadaptation Québec – Ste-Foy 3175, chemin Des-Quatre-Bourgeois, Quebec, QC, Canada, G1W 2K7. Tel.: +1 418 657 477; Fax: +1 418 657 1197; E-mail: julie.haslam.1@ulaval.ca

Abstract: Objective: To determine whether the processes of task performance as measured by the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) would discriminate between the employment levels of adults with schizophrenia. Participants: Twenty adults with schizophrenia who were engaged either in competitive employment, supported employment, prevocational training, or non-vocational activities, participated in this exploratory study. Methods: Each participant completed the AMPS, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and the Worker Role Interview (WRI) to gather data about their occupational performance, symptoms, drug / alcohol use, and psychosocial / environmental factors that might influence their work-related outcomes. Results: Analysis revealed a moderate correlation between the level of employment and the global scores of the process skills scale in the AMPS. Conclusions: This should be seen as preliminary evidence that beyond the basic cognitive functions, processes of task performance may also be a predictor of work-related outcomes for this population. The results also highlighted the importance of considering personal causation and worker roles when assessing the work capacities of these clients. Finally, findings supported the four levels of employment used in this study, which appeared to form a continuum from non-vocational activities, prevocational training, supported employment, through to competitive employment.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, employment, vocational performance, work capacity evaluation, assessment of motor and process skills

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2010-1056

Journal: Work, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 53-64, 2010