In a study of 28 psychiatric inpatients referred to occupational therapy, their understanding about the purposes of this treatment, their initial needs and attendance, the subsequent effects of treatment and their satisfaction with interventions were measured. The perceptions of the therapists involved with these patients were also studied. Patients reported significant benefits from treatment for three specific areas of need which they considered were addressed by occupational therapy. Over all 10 areas of need for which a consensus existed that occupational therapy played a role, patients reported a 13% reduction in need after 4 weeks' treatment.