Abstract
Occupational therapy (OT) is a therapeutic practice designed to enhance independence in individuals’ activities of daily living (ADL) across all age groups. While widely recognized for its role in physical rehabilitation, it is less commonly applied in mental health care. This underutilization can be attributed to a significant gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of OT in improving occupational function (OF) for individuals experiencing the negative effects of mental illnesses. Notably, OT in mental health care is not a new concept and dates to before World War I (WWI). This thesis conducts a literature review of fifty-one sources to explore the application of OT in mental health facilities and to identify the root causes of the existing literature gap. The review focuses on sources published within the past twenty-five years, accessed through both online and physical library databases. Findings indicate that OT is an effective, low-risk, and cost-efficient therapeutic intervention for adults with severe mental illnesses (SMI). However, poor documentation of care plans, limited outcome tracking, and a lack of long-term follow-up studies contribute to the literature gap. OT is an evidence-based practice, thus further research is essential to demonstrate its full value in mental health rehabilitation.
Semester/Year of Award
Fall 2024
Mentor
Dr. Kristen Campbell
Mentor Department Affiliation
Psychology
Access Options
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelors
Department
Psychology
Presentation
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bwv71WXIre0CAr1b4KIZg_7u-rcKZ6wtlbfYtL58sUY/edit?usp=sharing
Recommended Citation
Cassada, Isabelle G., "Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry: A Safe, Affordable Approach for Better Care" (2024). Honors Theses. 1069.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/1069
