Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

This review of the literature was conducted as part of the development of a position paper on the way ahead for research, education and practice in occupational therapy in mental health. It included publications over the past decade and concentrated on the British Journal of Occupational Therapy. Recognising that experience from other countries would be beneficial, aspects of the literature from the national journals in the USA, Canada and Australia which were most relevant to practice in the United Kingdom were included.

The shortage of articles on mental health was conspicuous and their diverse topics and descriptive nature were notable. In the United Kingdom literature, the clinical subjects featured most often were dementia, work rehabilitation, community mental health and forensic psychiatry, with other subjects either appearing infrequently or not included. The literature from the other countries also explored new roles for occupational therapy, reflecting the changes in the delivery of mental health services. In the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, there was concern about the declining number of occupational therapists working in mental health. The review identified major themes in the literature, posed questions for research, education and practice in occupational therapy and formed the foundation for the position paper.