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 14 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPQualitative2021How is COVID-19 Affecting the Mental Health of Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Their Families?Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with special needs reported that school closures disrupted routines and removed specialist support, leading to increased anxiety, challenging behaviour and feelings of being overwhelmed. A minority described reduced stress at home.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2021Effectiveness of specialized rehabilitation after mild traumatic brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSpecialized brain injury rehabilitation reduced post-concussion symptoms compared with usual care. Cognitive behavioral therapy and interdisciplinary programmes showed small benefits for mood and activity. Evidence quality was low because participants knew which treatment they received, so effects may be exaggerated.
• OTSystematic Review2021Impacts of Low-cost Robotic Pets for Older Adults and People With Dementia: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesLow-cost robotic cats and dogs reduced agitation and improved mood in people with dementia, and lowered loneliness in healthy older adults. However, some users found the robots creepy or distressing, and the evidence comes from small studies with poor quality ratings.
• OTCohort2021Epilepsy in adulthood: Prevalence, incidence, and associated antiepileptic drug use in autistic adults in a state Medicaid system.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEpilepsy is highly prevalent in autistic adults, especially those with intellectual disability. Many autistic adults on antiepileptic drugs lack epilepsy diagnoses, suggesting off-label use for behavior. Clinicians should screen for epilepsy in aging autistic adults with ID.
• OTSLPSurvey2021Disability and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with chronic moderate-severe TBI reported fewer pandemic-related changes to daily life, habits, and well-being than noninjured peers. They also reported less frequent masking and staying home, while some said TBI made the pandemic harder.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Health-Enabling Technologies to Assist Patients With Musculoskeletal Shoulder Disorders When Exercising at Home: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost home exercise technologies for shoulder pain are prototypes that track range of motion but rarely check movement quality. Only eight studies showed significant clinical improvements, so these tools currently assist rather than replace therapy.
• OTSLPSurvey2021The Association Between Autistic Traits and Disordered Eating is Moderated by Sex/Gender and Independent of Anxiety and Depression.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits correlate with more disordered eating symptoms, but this link is significantly stronger in females than males. The association persists even after accounting for anxiety and depression, suggesting autistic traits are an independent factor in eating disorder risk.
• PTOTOther202124-hour activity for children with cerebral palsy: a clinical practice guide.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA parent-completed checklist covering sleep and activity for children with cerebral palsy took 5 to 10 minutes on average. Clinicians reviewed it in no more than 2 minutes, and pilot feedback was positive, but validation is still needed.
• PTOTPilot2020A Pilot Study of the Feasibility and Effects of Table Tennis Training in Parkinson Disease.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTable tennis training was safe and feasible for people with mild to moderate Parkinson disease, with high attendance and no adverse events. Balance scores showed a non-significant increase, while depression scores and self-reported activity levels significantly improved.
• OTSLPCohort2020Sex Differences in Social Participation of High School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchHigh school students with autism had very low social participation regardless of sex. On average, they had 8 interactions in two weeks with only two peers. Females did not have more friends or interactions than males, though they texted and called friends more often.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Effect of Early Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation for Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEarly interdisciplinary rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury showed no clear overall benefit. Some studies reported better function or cognition, but the review included only four low-quality studies and found no strong evidence.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Can Yoga or Physical Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain Improve Depression and Anxiety Among Adults From a Racially Diverse, Low-Income Community? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationYoga and physical therapy did not significantly reduce depression or anxiety compared to education in the full group. However, participants with moderate symptoms at baseline saw meaningful improvements in both conditions after 12 weeks of either treatment.
• PTOTSurvey2021The effects of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity and mental health of children and young adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.Disability and health journal61% of parents of children and young adults with physical or intellectual disabilities reported negative physical changes, and over 90% reported worse mental health during UK lockdown. Median sitting time increased from 2 to 4 hours daily to 4 to 6 hours daily.
• OTCohort2020Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Multimorbidity in Adults With Acquired Brain Injury at Admission to Staged Community-Based Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation72.2% of adults entering staged community brain injury rehabilitation had a chronic condition, and 35.4% had conditions across two or more body systems. Older age was the only factor linked to conditions affecting multiple body systems.
• PTOTCohort2020Does age of patients with gastrointestinal cancer impact postoperative physical function and quality of life? A prospective study using the new Japanese elderly standard.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients aged 75 or older had shorter walking distance, weaker knee extension, and lower physical functioning and mental health at 4 weeks after surgery. Body mass index fell in all age groups, but knee force and walking distance did not change overall.
• PTOTSLPOther2021COVID-19: Patient Characteristics in the First Phase of Postintensive Care Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients arriving for post-ICU rehabilitation after severe COVID-19 had profound weakness, with 72.7% showing severe muscle loss in most major groups. Forty percent had swallowing difficulties requiring tube feeding or modified food, and 38.3% experienced low oxygen levels during exercise.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Factors Associated with Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaProphylactic antibiotics did not reduce pneumonia risk. Metoclopramide and multidisciplinary swallowing care appeared protective, but data were limited. PPI use was linked to higher risk. Nasogastric tube evidence was inconsistent. Mobility and dysphagia severity were strong risk markers.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2021Early Physical Therapist Interventions for Patients With COVID-19 in the Acute Care Hospital: A Case Report Series.Physical therapyPhysical therapists managed severe instability by moving patients very slowly and stopping exercises before coughing triggered oxygen drops. Anxiety worsened breathlessness, requiring active listening and education alongside movement. Family video calls helped reorient delirious patients when visits were banned.
• PTOTCohort2021Evidence for a Window of Enhanced Plasticity in the Human Motor Cortex Following Ischemic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn people after mild to moderate ischemic stroke, a brain-stimulation test showed the opposite side of the motor cortex was more changeable around two weeks, then less so. The injured side showed no clear early change. This was a measure, not a treatment.
• OTSLPPilot2020Social Capital and Autism in Young Adulthood: Applying Social Network Methods to Measure the Social Capital of Autistic Young Adults.Autism in adulthoodA social network survey was feasible for autistic young adults, showing their networks are mostly family and rarely include service providers. Employment support was the least accessed resource. This pilot method needs a larger sample to link network types to adult outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2021Fatigue in relation to long-term participation outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage survivors.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFour years after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, fatigue severity was independently linked to worse functional performance and perceived participation problems, even after adjusting for depression. However, fatigue was not associated with community integration.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Anxiety in autistic individuals who speak few or no words: A qualitative study of parental experience and anxiety management.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic people who speak few or no words struggle to distinguish anxiety from autism traits or other distress. They rely on deep knowledge of the child's baseline and behavioural cues. While they use sensory and distraction strategies, avoidance and reassurance may inadvertently maintain anxiety.
• PTOTRCT2021Effect of Virtual Reality Gait Training on Participation in Survivors of Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyVirtual reality gait training did not improve community participation more than standard treadmill training in stroke survivors. Both groups improved, and patients found the virtual reality approach safe and enjoyable, but it offered no statistical advantage over conventional care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021How do core autism traits and associated symptoms relate to quality of life? Findings from the Longitudinal European Autism Project.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceDepression symptoms, not core autism traits, were the strongest predictor of reduced quality of life in autistic adults. In children, anxiety and social difficulties also lowered satisfaction. Many autistic individuals reported good quality of life, so screen for subthreshold mental health issues rather than assuming poor well-being based on diagnosis alone.
• OTSurvey2021Assessing the psychological impact of COVID-19 outbreak and its related factors on Lebanese individuals with physical disabilities.Disability and health journalSelf-reported fear of COVID-19 was mild among Lebanese adults with physical disabilities. Anxiety and depression were more frequent in unemployed participants, and depression was also linked to no college education and being married.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021The Comparative Mental Health Responses Between Post-Musculoskeletal Injury and Post-Concussive Injury Among Collegiate Athletes: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyCollegiate athletes with concussions and those with musculoskeletal injuries showed similar patterns of depression and anxiety. Anxiety scores dropped initially but often remained clinically significant. Athletes frequently returned to play before their psychological symptoms resolved, regardless of injury type.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and perceived strain among caregivers tending children with special needs.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers of children with special needs in India reported high rates of depression and significantly increased strain during the COVID-19 lockdown. Factors like lack of tele-rehabilitation and difficulty with homecare therapy were linked to worse mental health, suggesting a need for better remote support and caregiver training.
• OTRCT2021Child- compared with parent-report ratings on psychosocial measures following a mild traumatic brain injury among youth with persistent post-concussion symptoms.Brain injuryYouth with persistent concussion symptoms reported more symptoms and better functioning than their parents did. Ratings often differed, especially by age and gender, so ask both for their views before planning care.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2021Behavioural, psychiatric and psychosocial factors associated with aggressive behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and narrative analysis.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDNo behavioural, psychiatric or psychosocial factor was consistently associated with aggression across 38 studies of adults with intellectual disabilities. Aggression types often co-occurred. Use individual functional assessment rather than assuming a diagnosis or skill deficit causes aggression.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Predictors for self-reported feeling of depression three months after stroke: A longitudinal cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCognitive screening 36–48 hours after stroke did not predict depression three months later. Female sex, being younger than 70, and living alone before the stroke were significant predictors. Use these social and demographic factors, not early cognitive scores, to identify patients at risk for post-stroke depression.
• PTOTPilot2021A 3-month multicomponent home-based rehabilitation program for older people with restricted life-space mobility: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with very restricted mobility improved their life-space score by 18.5 points after 3 months of home rehab. This gain exceeded the 10-point threshold considered clinically meaningful. However, the improvement came from moving with help, not independently.
• OTSLPCohort2021Oral health and oral health behaviour of adolescents with mild or borderline intellectual disabilities compared with a national representative sample of 17-year-olds in the Netherlands.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdolescents with mild or borderline intellectual disabilities had more tooth decay and plaque than their peers, despite reporting similar brushing habits. They visited dentists less often and snacked more at night. Dental anxiety was higher, and those living in institutions had worse outcomes than those at home.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children with cerebral palsy: high prevalence rates in a population-based study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn a population of children with cerebral palsy, 30% had autism and 30% had ADHD, rates higher than previously reported. Intellectual disability, not motor severity, was the strongest predictor. Screening for these conditions is warranted regardless of physical function.
• PTOTCohort2021Impact of sarcopenia on the progress of cardiac rehabilitation and discharge destination after cardiovascular surgery.Journal of physical therapy scienceSarcopenia delayed cardiac rehab milestones and increased transfer to other facilities, but did not change total hospital stay. Anxiety, depression, and nutrition showed no link to these outcomes. Balance decline predicted transfer.
• OTCohort2021Predicting caregiver burden over the first 4 months after acute traumatic brain injury in Latin America: a multi-country study.Brain injuryCaregiver burden fell across the first 4 months after TBI discharge, but male caregivers and caregivers of patients with poorer social and emotional self-regulation reported higher burden overall.
• PTOTOther2021Does pre-operative physical rehabilitation improve the functional outcomes of patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery?Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients who improved their walking distance before GI cancer surgery maintained it four weeks after, while those who deteriorated lost about 15% of it. However, this pre-operative gain did not reduce post-operative complications or improve quality of life scores compared to those who did not improve.
• PTOTQualitative2021'I forget to do pressure relief': Personal factors influencing the prevention of secondary health conditions in people with spinal cord injury, South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyPeople with spinal cord injury described money, mood, knowledge, habits, and equipment as shaping pressure sore and infection prevention. Forgetfulness, shame, beliefs, and late help-seeking made prevention harder.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021New obstacles and widening gaps: A qualitative study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. adults with disabilities.Disability and health journalThirty-eight U.S. adults with disabilities described how pandemic measures created new barriers. Masks blocked communication for speech-readers, drive-through testing was inaccessible, and telehealth helped some but burdened others. These obstacles varied by disability type but affected every group in the study.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Factors associated with met and unmet rehabilitation needs after stroke: A multicentre cohort study in Denmark and Norway.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThree months after stroke, 67% reported needing training and 69% needed help, with similar rates in Norway and Denmark despite different rehabilitation pathways. Unmet needs for training were linked to lower function and anxiety, while unmet needs for help were linked to living alone and depression.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Post-intensive care syndrome following cardiothoracic critical care: Feasibility of a complex intervention.Journal of rehabilitation medicineImplementing a complex post-ICU rehabilitation programme was feasible and safe, with high completion rates. Patients and caregivers experienced significant physical, emotional, and social challenges, including anxiety and sleep problems, that persisted for months after discharge.
• OTSLPCohort2021Home environment: Short-term trends and predictors in early childhood from an Indian community birth cohort.Child: care, health and developmentOverall home scores did not change much over 3 years, but family assets, mother's education and mood were strongly linked to home quality.
• OTSLPCohort2021Temporal evolution and predictors of subjective cognitive complaints up to 4 years after stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn 121 patients with data at all time points, cognitive complaints rose up to 4 years. At 4 years, 89.3% reported at least one complaint, and the average number was 4.1 on a 0-13 scale. Early complaints and psychological factors were linked to later complaints.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2021Can listening-related fatigue influence well-being? Examining associations between hearing loss, fatigue, activity levels and well-being.International journal of audiologyHearing loss was linked to lower work and physical activity, while social findings were mixed. Device use was linked to more activity in some studies, but this review could not show that hearing loss or devices caused fatigue or reduced well-being.
• OTSLPQualitative2021End-user perspectives on the development of an online intervention for parents of children on the autism spectrum.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic children described online services as fragmented and hard to trust. They asked for a single hub combining peer support, clear diagnosis pathways, and direct access to professionals like SLTs and OTs, with content they could search by their child's specific needs.
• PTOTCohort2021Factors predicting discharge after two years for inpatients in the psychiatric long-term care wards who can walk independently.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong psychiatric inpatients who could walk unaided, only age predicted discharge after two years. Patients still hospitalized were older, had longer stays, and worse two-step and stand-up scores, but physical tests did not independently predict discharge.
• PTOTQualitative2021Experiences of secondary health conditions amongst people with spinal cord injury in South Africa: A qualitative study.The South African journal of physiotherapyPeople with spinal cord injury described secondary health conditions such as pain, bowel and bladder problems, pressure sores and spasms as limiting movement, daily care, work and social life. They also reported fear, shame, sadness and some new coping skills.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Autonomic dysfunction in autism: The roles of anxiety, depression, and stress.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults report more autonomic symptoms, such as dizziness and bowel issues, than non-autistic peers. However, this difference disappears once anxiety and stress are accounted for. The symptoms appear driven by co-occurring mental health difficulties rather than autism itself.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Domains of Health-Related Quality of Life Are Associated With Specific Deficits and Lesion Locations in Chronic Aphasia.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairDepression symptoms and arm weakness predicted lower overall quality of life. Language production deficits predicted lower communication quality. Specific brain lesions in the basal ganglia and inferior frontal areas were linked to poorer physical and psychosocial outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2021Fear Avoidance Predicts Persistent Pain in Young Adults With Low Back Pain: A Prospective Study.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyFear avoidance and pain interference predicted persistent pain in young adults. Most participants improved, but those with high fear avoidance stayed in moderate/high pain. Physical activity levels did not differ between groups, challenging the assumption that inactivity drives chronicity in this population.
• OTRCT2021Virtual interview training for autistic transition age youth: A randomized controlled feasibility and effectiveness trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic youth using a virtual interview simulator alongside school transition services showed better interview skills and higher competitive employment rates than those receiving services alone. They also reported less interview anxiety. The training was feasible for teachers to deliver.