"Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry: A Safe, Affordable Approach for Be" by Isabelle G. Cassada

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

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