Disablement and Functioning Research Program

Overview

This program supports studies on the development of methodologies for assessing disablements and functional status, and the development of global and specific measures of disablements and functional status; the identification and assessment of disablements/functional status in clinical investigations and in clinical epidemiological surveys. In addition, it supports studies of the relationship of rehabilitative and traditional mental health services and service systems; impact of disability benefits and insurance; factors affecting impairments and disabilities during and as an outcome of rehabilitation and other treatments; rehabilitative services focused on specific domains of disabilities, such as work and social relationships; and, factors that influence and sustain community reintegration.

Areas of Emphasis

• Research on social support and service system changes necessary to make it possible for former patients/clients to reintegrate into community settings.
• The effect of individual and caseworker characteristics on treatment effectiveness.
• Research on needs of caseworkers within organizations and systems to be able to provide clients what they need when they need it.
• Studies addressing why current models of rehabilitation work for some clients and not others.
• Development and testing of better measures of disablement and functioning, particularly ones that are informed by end-users and community settings.

Contact

Denise M. Juliano-Bult, M.S.W.
Program Chief
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7137, MSC 9631
301-443-3364, djuliano@mail.nih.gov