Kuldau‐California.

Methods	Allocation: by sealed envelope method. Follow up: 18 months. Lost to follow‐up: 5%. Objectivity of rating of outcome: unclear if raters were independent.
Participants	Inclusion criteria: i. new admission to VA hospital; ii. residing locally. Diagnosis: schizophrenia, schizophrenia‐like disorders (>27%). N=94. Age: mean ˜41 years. Sex: all men. Race: not reported. History: ever married 74%, ever employed U/K but 12% unemployed for 5 years, time since last employment U/K, previous admissions, mean ˜3. Setting: California, USA.
Interventions	1. Treatment program: combination of i. inpatient care (in therapeutic community milieu); ii. transitional day hospital care; iii. community housing; iv. supported/sheltered work. An employment co‐ordinator (ex‐patient) i. scanned community for job possibilities; ii. worked with patients to help find employment; iii. placed people in jobs. Patients i. worked through the 'progress and planning group' until a "work‐readiness" committee declared them fit for work; ii. could independently seek work own or through this service. Staff liaision with employers about on‐the‐job problems. N=44. 2. Control: i. 'rapid' discharge with emphasis on discharge planning; ii. no housing or community employment service but emphasised work activities such as unpaid industrial therapy assignments in hospital. N=50.
Outcomes	Monthly earnings. Unable to use ‐ Ever employed during study (not a primary or secondary outcome variable. Time in competitive employment (data unclear). Living in community at end of study (not a primary or secondary outcome variable).
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate