TOPIC

Mental health research

Everything we have read on mental health. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

2,018 PAPERS · PAGE 12 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPCohort2020Differences in anxieties and social networks in a group-matched sample of autistic and typically developing students transitioning to university.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students starting university reported more worries and distress than matched peers, despite similar academic ability. They had smaller social networks but perceived similar support levels. Social anxiety, not just autism traits, linked to daily living and social distress.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020The Longitudinal Effects of Comorbid Health Burden on Functional Outcomes for Adults With Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAmong 10-year survivors of moderate to severe TBI, higher physical burden was associated with worse motor, cognitive, and life satisfaction trajectories; higher mental burden was associated with worse cognition and life satisfaction.
• OTCohort2020Associated Risk Factors for Depression and Anxiety in Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Five-Year Follow Up.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesDuring follow-up, depression and anxiety rose in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. More chronic conditions, autism, hearing impairment, older age, female sex, and smoking were linked with higher risk.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020Adaptive conjunctive cognitive training (ACCT) in virtual reality for chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled pilot trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA VR cognitive training program showed within-group improvements in attention and spatial awareness for chronic stroke patients. However, there was no significant difference compared to home-based paper-and-pencil exercises, and the authors state they cannot claim a rehabilitation effect.
• OTSLPOther2019Development of the Stanford Social Dimensions Scale: initial validation in autism spectrum disorder and in neurotypicals.Molecular autismThe Stanford Social Dimensions Scale separates social motivation, affiliation, communication, recognition, and unusual approach into five distinct scores. It reliably measures these traits in children with autism and neurotypical peers, offering a clearer profile of social strengths and weaknesses than existing diagnostic tools.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Neuropsychiatric decompensation in adolescents and adults with Phelan-McDermid syndrome: a systematic review of the literature.Molecular autismAdolescents and adults with Phelan-McDermid syndrome show a high risk of sudden neuropsychiatric decompensation, including bipolar disorder and catatonia. Peak onset is between 16 and 20 years. Antipsychotics were often ineffective or poorly tolerated, while lithium and divalproex sodium showed more consistent benefit.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Evidence for an Association Between Hearing Impairment and Disrupted Sleep: Scoping Review.American journal of audiologyHearing loss is frequently linked to poorer sleep in adults, but tinnitus is a major confound that many studies ignored. Clinicians should screen for sleep issues in patients with hearing loss while carefully distinguishing whether tinnitus is the primary driver.
• OTSLPCohort2020Autism Heterogeneity in a Densely Sampled U.S. Population: Results From the First 1,000 Participants in the RI-CART Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutism presentations in this population were highly heterogeneous. Many participants had co-occurring medical, psychiatric, or neurological conditions, and girls were diagnosed later than boys, with verbal status linked to earlier diagnosis in boys.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Factors associated with employment and work perception in combat-exposed veterans.Rehabilitation psychologyDepression and pain symptoms predicted unemployment, but objective cognitive test scores did not. History of mild TBI predicted the belief that work ability had declined, not actual unemployment. Clinicians should target negative self-perceptions rather than assuming cognitive deficits are the primary barrier to work.
• OTOther2020Effect of Maternal Distress on Perceptions of Infant Behavior May Differ in Chinese-American and European-American Mothers and Infants.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPEuropean American mothers with more distress reported infants as harder to soothe and more distressed. Chinese American mothers' distress was not linked to these reports. Observed infant negativity was linked to distress reports in both groups.
• OTSLPCohort2020Psychosocial and functional outcomes in young adults with childhood-onset epilepsy: a 10-year follow-up.Developmental medicine and child neurologyYoung adults with epilepsy had similar education, living, work, income, marriage, and quality of life outcomes to controls. They reported more cognitive and overall functional disability. The differences were linked to ADHD and school problems present at diagnosis.
• OTCohort2020Wandering Among Preschool Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn preschoolers, 60.4% of children classified as autism spectrum disorder were reported to wander, compared with 12.4% of population comparison children. Wandering was also linked to affective, anxiety, ADHD, and oppositional problems. The study was observational, so it shows links, not causes.
• OTSLPOther2020Establishing the Factor Structure of a Health-Related Quality of Life Measurement System for Caregivers of Persons Living With Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA new six-part framework for measuring caregiver quality of life after brain injury separates social participation from isolation and negative affect from physical health. This allows therapists to target specific caregiver burdens rather than assuming a single global decline.
• OTOther2020Factors affecting cognition and emotion in patients with traumatic brain injury.NeuroRehabilitationLonger loss of consciousness was linked to worse everyday memory and agitation in patients with traumatic brain injury. Lesion location was linked to executive test performance and mood, but this was an assessment study, not a treatment trial.
• OTSLPQualitative2020'When my autism broke': A qualitative study spotlighting autistic voices on menopause.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic participants said menopause brought on or worsened sensory sensitivity, executive function problems, sleep problems, self-care struggles, mood difficulties and social communication strain. They described clinicians as lacking knowledge and interest, leaving them to seek peer and online support.
• OTRCT2020Improving well-being after traumatic brain injury through volunteering: a randomized controlled trial.Brain injuryA structured volunteering program improved life satisfaction and perceived success in people with traumatic brain injury, but did not reduce anxiety, depression, or overall psychological distress. The benefits appeared after the 18-week intervention and lasted through 6-month follow-up.
• OTSLPCohort2020Sluggish cognitive tempo: An examination of clinical correlates for adults with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn young adults with autism, sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms strongly predicted depression but not anxiety. These symptoms were distinct from ADHD hyperactivity but linked to ADHD inattention. Sluggishness predicted poorer performance on complex executive function tasks requiring verbal explanation, but not simpler sorting tasks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Links between self-injury and suicidality in autism.Molecular autismAutistic adults with a history of self-injury reported significantly more suicide ideation and attempts than those without, regardless of whether they viewed their self-injury as a problem. Cutting was associated with higher suicide risk, while hitting or scratching was not.
• PTOTSurvey2020Physical activity guidelines and promotion: An online survey of United Kingdom's prosthetic rehabilitation healthcare professionals.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalUK prosthetic rehabilitation professionals averaged 6.42 of 11 on physical activity guideline knowledge. Physiotherapists scored 7.00, prosthetists/orthotists 6.24, and other professionals 5.89. This was self-report only, so it does not show what patients received.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Predictors of Arm Nonuse in Chronic Stroke: A Preliminary Investigation.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 20 people with chronic stroke, attention and arousal deficits predicted non-use of the affected arm more strongly than the arm's physical capacity. This suggests that for patients who can move their arm but choose not to, addressing attentional engagement is critical.
• PTOTSurvey2020Satisfaction with quality of healthcare at primary healthcare settings: Perspectives of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The South African journal of physiotherapyPatients with type 2 diabetes rated overall care at South African clinics as good, with 80.9% satisfied. However, dissatisfaction was high regarding wait times and clarity of discharge instructions. Those who gave suggestions overwhelmingly called for more staff, better communication from doctors, and reduced pharmacy queues.
• OTSLPOther2020Observed emotional reactivity in response to frustration tasks in psychiatrically hospitalized youth with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceHospitalized autistic youth showed more intense and longer negative reactions during frustration tasks than before them, then generally returned to baseline during recovery. Youth with little or no speech and lower adaptive skills reacted more strongly.
• OTSLPCohort2020Trajectories of emotional and behavioral problems from childhood to early adult life.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEmotional, conduct and ADHD symptoms declined modestly from childhood to early adulthood in autistic people, but many still scored high on screening questions. Better everyday adaptive function was associated with faster declines in conduct and ADHD symptoms.
• OTQualitative2020'Conflict versus Congruence': A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experience of Gender Dysphoria for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTen autistic adults with gender dysphoria described autism as both a barrier to accessing support and a protector against societal judgment. They reported that structured, predictable clinical environments and peer connections were essential for reducing distress and enabling transition.
• PTOTPilot2020Web-Based Health Coaching for Spinal Cord Injury: Results From a Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesEleven people with spinal cord injury completed a web-based peer coaching program, but none of the changes in self-efficacy, mood or secondary conditions reached significance. The authors report feasibility, not proof the intervention works.
• OTOther2019Psychometric Properties of the Korean Dispositional Hope Scale Using the Rasch Analysis in Stroke Patients.Occupational therapy internationalThe Korean Dispositional Hope Scale appeared suitable for community stroke patients who completed the scale. Eight items and the response options worked well, but 38.6% of participants were outside the scale's usable range.
• OTSurvey2019Discrepancies between Self- and Clinical Staff Members' Perception of Cognitive Functioning among Patients with Schizophrenia Undergoing Long-Term Hospitalization.Occupational therapy internationalStaff and patients often disagreed about cognitive difficulty in long-term inpatients with schizophrenia. Most who disagreed underestimated their abilities, appearing capable but reporting more confusion, so staff ratings alone may miss distress.
• OTSurvey2020Stress at work: The case of municipal police officers.Work (Reading, Mass.)Municipal police officers who believed their job was more stressful than others and experienced daily stress were more likely to consult a psychologist. Common stressors included physical abuse, working in a hurry, and dangerous interventions, while passive coping like watching TV was frequent.
• OTSLPOther2020Effectiveness of a modified group cognitive behavioral therapy program for anxiety in children with ASD delivered in a community context.Molecular autismCommunity-delivered CBT for anxiety in children with autism worked as well as hospital-based care. Parent-reported anxiety scores dropped significantly, and 90% of enrolled children finished the program. The study found no specific child characteristics predicted who improved.
• PTOTOther2020Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults prioritized research on trauma, stigma, self-managed community approaches like exercise and peer support, and outcomes such as quality of life, anxiety and sleep. They wanted interventions adapted and led by autistic people. This is not efficacy evidence.
• OTOther2020Daily Performance of Adolescents with Executive Function Deficits: An Empirical Study Using a Complex-Cooking Task.Occupational therapy internationalAdolescents with executive function deficits made more errors, took longer, and needed more adult help than typical peers while preparing two recipes in a therapeutic kitchen. The cooking task distinguished groups, but did not test treatment.
• PTOTOther2020Mental health guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFor people with spina bifida, mental health guidelines recommend screening for depression, anxiety, bullying, and risk behaviors at all ages. They also recommend family support, physical and social activity, self-care, and transition planning. These are consensus recommendations, not proven treatments.
• OTOther2020The Validity of the Danish Version of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.Occupational therapy internationalThe Danish Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores showed no meaningful overlap with tests of health, well-being, or general occupational behavior. This confirms it captures unique client priorities that other common assessments miss, so it cannot be replaced by generic health measures.
• OTQualitative2020Occupational Risks in Occupational Therapy Service Learning: A Single-Site "Fear Factor" Study in South Africa.Occupational therapy internationalSeventeen female occupational therapy students in South Africa reported fear of infection, musculoskeletal pain from transfers, and unsafe client behaviour during placements. Inconsistent infection control made them pull back; clear safety practices and support were described as helping them engage.
• OTOther2020Work-focused therapy for common mental disorders: A naturalistic study comparing an intervention group with a waitlist control group.Work (Reading, Mass.)Work-focused therapy combined with CBT or MCT helped more patients on sick leave return fully to work than waiting: 41.4% versus 26.3%. It also improved mood, anxiety and work confidence, but the groups were not randomised.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Sex differences in the first impressions made by girls and boys with autism.Molecular autismAutistic boys made significantly worse first impressions than autistic girls, who were rated similarly to typically developing peers. Clinician ratings of social impairment correlated with first impressions in boys but not girls, suggesting girls may camouflage symptoms during brief interactions.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2020A Strength-Based Intervention to Increase Participation in Leisure Activities in Children with Neuropsychiatric Disabilities: A Pilot Study.Occupational therapy internationalTwo boys with autism and ADHD set their own leisure goals. They reached these goals and rated their own ability higher. However, the intervention was time-consuming for staff, and the small number of participants means we cannot know if this works for others.
• PTOTOther2020Family functioning guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineExpert consensus guidelines recommend assessing family dynamics, stress, and barriers to medical self-management across spina bifida age groups. They suggest referring to OT and PT for self-care. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• OTOther2020A structural equation model analysis of the effects of emotional labor and job stress on depression among nurses with long working hours: Focusing on the mediating effects of resilience and social support.Work (Reading, Mass.)For nurses working over 10 hours a day, emotional labor directly increases depression. Job stress does not directly cause depression but does so indirectly by lowering social support. Resilience also mediates the link between emotional labor and depression.
• OTOther2020Effects of a Cognitive-Functional Intervention Method on Improving Executive Function and Self-Directed Learning in School-Aged Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Single-Subject Design Study.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with ADHD improved on executive function tests and homework reports after an occupational therapy programme teaching stop, plan, and review. With no comparison group, this shows possible change, not proof of effectiveness.
• OTRCT2020The Effects of a Recollection-Based Occupational Therapy Program of Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Occupational therapy internationalMild Alzheimer's patients in a daycare centre who did a 24-session occupational therapy programme combining recollection with physical, horticultural, musical, artistic and daily-living tasks showed fewer memory complaints, better cognition, lower depression scores and higher quality-of-life scores than usual activities.
• PTOTCohort2020Performance Measures for Short-Term Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients of Working Age: Results of the Prospective Observational Multicenter Registry OutCaRe.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationDuring short-term cardiac rehab for patients under 65, smoking status, blood pressure, exercise training load, well-being, depression, physical health and self-rated health prognosis changed and were recorded often enough to track immediate outcomes.
• OTSLPQualitative2020"Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew": Defining Autistic Burnout.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults described burnout as long-lasting exhaustion, lost skills, and lower sensory tolerance after chronic stress and unsupported expectations. They named relief in accepting support, breaks, reduced masking, and accommodations.
• OTOther2020The study of the validity and reliability of the Occupational Self-Assessment-traditional Chinese version.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe traditional Chinese Occupational Self-Assessment scored consistently across four areas for 593 clients with mental illness, but the environment domain did not fit as a separate domain. OTs can use self-performance, habituation and volition scores to understand client-reported strengths.
• OTSLPOther2020Dissecting the phenotypic heterogeneity in sensory features in autism spectrum disorder: a factor mixture modelling approach.Molecular autismAutistic children and adults grouped into three sensory severity levels rather than distinct sensory patterns. The severe group had more social-communication, repetitive behaviour and adaptive functioning difficulties.
• OTOther2020Work analysis tool for higher education: Development and validation of the german student measure WA-S Screening.Work (Reading, Mass.)A new survey measures university students' study conditions across eight subscales. It reliably links work overload and low skill fit to burnout, and lecturer feedback to engagement. Use it to identify systemic stressors, not to treat individual patients.
• OTQualitative2020What are psychosocial risk factors for entrepreneurs to become unfit for work? A qualitative exploration.Work (Reading, Mass.)Entrepreneurs reported six psychosocial risk factors: financial stress, conflicts of interest, high responsibility, long hours, management issues, and administrative burdens. They identified stress resistance, flexibility, and good leadership as key traits for coping with these demands.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Association of formal and informal care with health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms: findings from the Caring for Adults Recovering from the Effects of Stroke study.Disability and rehabilitationStroke survivors receiving only informal care reported significantly higher depressive symptoms than those receiving no care. Shared care involving both formal and informal sources showed no difference in depression or quality of life compared to no care, despite the shared care group having more severe strokes.
• OTSLPCohort2021Memory Support System training in mild cognitive impairment: Predictors of learning and adherence.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with mild cognitive impairment who learned the Memory Support System better at the end of a 10-day program were more likely to keep using it at 6, 12, and 18 months. Baseline global cognition predicted how well they learned the system.
• PTOTCohort2020Longitudinal depressive and anxiety symptoms of adult injury patients in Kenya and their risk factors.Disability and rehabilitationMost injury survivors in Kenya had low distress, but 13% developed persistent elevated depression and anxiety. This group faced three times higher disability and very low return-to-work rates. Risk factors included being female, prior trauma exposure, and long hospital stays.