Therapeutic factors in occupational group therapy identified by patients discharged from a psychiatric day centre and their significant others

Abstract

Therapeutic factors in occupational group therapy have only been subjected to minimal investigation [AUTHOR -I'VE REWRITTEN THE FIRST SENTENCE AS THE ORIGI-NAL SOUNDED ODD IN ENGLISH. IS THIS OK?]. Previous research (Howe & Schwartzberg, 1986)

Outcomes of a Freedom of Choice Reform in Community Mental Health Day Center Services

“…Reluctance to move may also have to do with dependence on the current day center staff, perhaps reinforced by low self-confidence. Previous research has shown that staff support is seen by the users as one of the major helping factors in activity-based rehabilitation (Eklund, 1997). Furthermore, new systems may create worries about the future and thoughts about hidden agendas, and one can also speculate that any worries among the staff may have spread to the users.…”

Effectiveness of Activity-Based Group Work in Community Mental Health: A Systematic Review

“…This situation also reflects the fact that rigorous evidence is limited for any nonpharmacological interventions that are effective in a population with severe and enduring mental illness; however, such evidence is building (Buchain, Vizotto, Neto, & Elkis, 2003;Scott, Palmer, Paykel, Teasdale, & Hayhurst, 2003). The literature has shown that a substantial amount of consensus exists with regard to the benefit of activity-based group work across professionals, service users, caregivers and family, and mental health organizations (Eklund, 1997;Moll & Valiant Cook, 1996;Willcock, 2006). However, "because patients so often get better or worse on their own, no matter what we do, clinical experience is a poor judge of what does and does not work" (Doust & Del Mar, 2004, p. 474).…”

The Role of Perceived Control for the Perception of Health by Patients with Persistent Mental Illness

“…An additional way of targeting perceived control in occupational therapy might be working with what Yalom (34) called the existential factor, namely the insight that one has the power to influence one's situation in life, and also a responsibility to do one's best to make something out of life. This existential theme has been identified among the helping factors of occupational therapy (35) and can be approached in various occupational therapy interventions, for example the Tree Theme Method (36), in which occupational storytelling and story-making is stimulated. Moreover, the findings from this study indicate that perceived control, both locus of control and mastery, should be incorporated in occupational therapists' assessment battery.…”