A qualitative study exploring occupational therapist's experiences of delivering interventions to patients in seclusion whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Anita Bowser, Beth Harwood, Rachael Wright and 1 others
PMID 40337115WHAT IT FOUND
Six UK occupational therapists working in mental health seclusion described battling a team view that seclusion is punishment.
They argued for continuing therapy to reduce isolation and shorten stays, using graded activities like yoga or baking through the hatch to manage safety risks.
Key findings
01Participants perceived that some multidisciplinary team members viewed seclusion as punitive and believed patients should not engage in activities while secluded.
02Therapists adapted interventions to manage risk and maintain engagement, including doing yoga, listening to music, reading, and baking through the seclusion hatch or door.
03A major barrier was the lack of understanding of the occupational therapy role within the wider team, with therapists sometimes seen merely as activity coordinators or extra staff for tasks like medication administration.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (six participants), which limits the transferability of the findings. Convenience and snowball sampling via social media may have introduced selection bias, potentially attracting therapists already passionate about this area. The study did not collect data on how frequently each participant worked in seclusion, so the depth of experience varied. There was no member checking, meaning participants did not have the opportunity to review or validate the final themes. The study explored therapist views only, not patient outcomes or the actual effectiveness of the interventions described.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and no financial support for the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the therapists' belief that occupational therapy shortens seclusion stays as evidence that it does. The study reports their perceptions and experiences, not measured patient outcomes or length-of-stay data, so the effectiveness of these interventions remains unproven.