Non-Clinical Services Improve Functional Outcomes in Young Adults with Mental Disorders

New research conducted by the University of Queensland has found that non-clinical support services can significantly improve functioning in daily activities for young adults living with mental disorders. The study, published in the Early Intervention in Psychiatry journal, aimed to examine and synthesize the evidence for non-clinical services on improving functional outcomes for young adults with mental disorders. The research involved a systematic search of 17 studies, with results indicating that vocational support services and lifestyle interventions can positively impact employment rates and physical health among young adults.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that non-clinical support services, such as vocational support and lifestyle interventions, can significantly improve functioning in daily activities for young adults living with mental disorders.
• Over half of the vocational support service studies reported increased employment rates among young adults, with 6 out of 9 studies showing positive results.
• Lifestyle interventions, which included physical activity, nutrition education, health coaching, and motivation and behavior change, showed some promise in improving functional outcomes, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
• The study identified 17 studies that met inclusion criteria, with 9 studies focusing on vocational support services, 6 on lifestyle interventions, and 2 on family and network support services.
• No studies on peer-support services or youth development services were found, highlighting the need for further research in these areas.
• The research concluded that non-clinical services, such as vocational support and lifestyle interventions, can provide pragmatic guidance for service planners to invest in supports and interventions that make a meaningful difference to the lives of young adults living with mental disorders.

Statistics:

• 17 studies met inclusion criteria for the research, with 9 studies focusing on vocational support services, 6 on lifestyle interventions, and 2 on family and network support services.
• 6 out of 9 vocational support service studies showed increased employment rates among young adults.
• 40% of lifestyle interventions studies included a combination of physical activity, nutrition education, health coaching, and motivation and behavior change.
• The measures of functioning used across studies were too varied to determine whether lifestyle interventions may be useful in improving functional outcomes for young adults.

Sources:

• Do Non-Clinical Services Help to Improve Functional Outcomes Among Young Adults With Mental Disorders? A Systematic Review. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 2024.
• University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
• Early Intervention in Psychiatry. Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.