Prediction of Vocational Rehabilitation Outcome in Schizophrenia: Incremental Prognostic Validity of Learning Potential Beyond Basic Cognitive Performance

Abstract

This article examines learning potential as a predictor of the success of a vocational rehabilitation program for patients with severe mental illness in Germany. Forty-one schizophrenia patients completed a pretest–training–posttest version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test as a measure of learning potential. Pretest scores indicated basic cognitive performance, and posttest scores indicated individual learning potential. Rehabilitation outcome was assessed using measures for work capability during the rehabilitation program and the level of vocational integration at 3-month follow-up. Individual learning potential was a better predictor of work capability and the level of vocational reintegration than basic cognitive performance. Our study demonstrates that learning potential is an informative predictor for rehabilitation outcome and adds information beyond basic cognitive performance.