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 15 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSurvey2021Evaluating the self-determination continuum towards seeking support among people with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRAdults with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities mostly sought support because it helped them or fit their values. Finding support personally useful was linked to higher life satisfaction; feeling no motivation was linked to lower life satisfaction.
• OTSLPCohort2021Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchNearly half of autistic adults reported moderate-to-severe psychological distress early in the pandemic. Distress levels remained stable over two months despite worsening life disruptions. Frequent hopefulness predicted lower distress and greater resilience, suggesting emotional supports should target hope.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Predictors of mental health among parents of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: A web-based cross-sectional study.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregiver burden predicted anxiety, depression, and stress more strongly than income or education. About half of parents reported anxiety symptoms. For therapists, this means assessing and reducing the daily load of care, not just the child's function, is central to supporting the family.
• PTOTCohort2021Shedding light on light exposure in elderly with intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRElderly people with intellectual disabilities in group homes spend their day in low light. They rarely get the bright exposure linked to better sleep and mood, especially on weekends. This is a descriptive finding, not proof that lighting changes cause their health issues.
• OTSLPRCT2021Modulation of atypical brain activation during executive functioning in autism: a pharmacological MRI study of tianeptine.Molecular autismA single dose of tianeptine shifted atypical brain activation in adults with autism towards typical patterns during attention tasks. However, it did not improve actual test performance, so this is a proof of concept for brain changes, not evidence of clinical benefit.
• PTOTRCT2021Executive Function Moderates Functional Outcomes of Engagement Strategies During Rehabilitation in Older Adults.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationNo overall difference between Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation and standard physical and occupational therapy was found in this exploratory analysis. Higher clock drawing scores were associated with higher discharge function in patients receiving the Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation approach.
• OTOther2021A co-twin-control study of altered sensory processing in autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceWithin identical twin pairs, higher autism traits were still linked to less noticing and more avoiding sensory input. Sensitivity differences were found only in fraternal pairs. Across the sample, autism traits and diagnosis were linked to sensory differences.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Identifying hearing impairment and the associated impact on the quality of life among the elderly residing in retirement homes in Pretoria, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost elderly residents in South African retirement homes failed hearing screens, with 77% referred for further evaluation. Self-reported hearing difficulties were significantly associated with reduced quality of life. Many participants had never heard of an audiologist, and hearing aid users reported challenges with device maintenance.
• OTSLPSurvey2021The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with autism: a survey study across three countries.Molecular autismAdults with autism reported significantly greater increases in depression and anxiety during the pandemic than those without. They faced specific stressors like disrupted routines, grocery shopping, and loss of support, while some found relief from social and sensory overload.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Psychological eHealth interventions for people with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMost studies used wearable sensors to prompt adaptive behaviour in people with severe disabilities. Only two trials tested remote video coaching for parents. No study delivered therapy directly to adults via video. Evidence is mostly single-case, so effectiveness remains unproven.
• OTNarrative Review2021Effects of extreme weather events on child mood and behavior.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAfter extreme weather events, children may show posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, aggression, sleep problems, and school difficulties. Social support and caregiver presence are associated with less severe or shorter mood symptoms; other factors are mixed.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Behavioural change in Prader-Willi syndrome during COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers reported that lockdown restrictions worsened Prader-Willi syndrome behaviours. Temper outbursts, irritability, anxiety and food-seeking increased in roughly half of the group. Individuals living in specialist care facilities showed significantly less increase in irritability and food-seeking than those living at home.
• PTOTRCT2021Phase IIB Randomized Trial on the Use of 4-Aminopyridine in Guillain-Barré Syndrome.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation4-aminopyridine did not improve strength or walking compared with placebo in people with chronic Guillain-Barré syndrome. Seven of nineteen participants dropped out, including three because of adverse effects such as tremor and dizziness.
• OTQualitative2021Participation in Community Gardening: Sowing the Seeds of Well-Being: Participation au jardinage communautaire : pour semer les graines du bien-être.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapiePeople living with mental health issues in a community gardening program at supported housing and a resource center described feeling safer, more confident, and more connected. They valued choice, facilitator-led and peer learning, hands-on gardening, staff and volunteers, and shared produce.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Predictors of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Performance in Patients with Stroke.Occupational therapy internationalFor stroke survivors, how independent they are in basic self-care tasks was the strongest predictor of their ability to manage complex daily activities like shopping or finances. Older age, poorer executive function, and higher depression scores also predicted worse performance.
• OTSLPOther2021'No idea of time': Parents report differences in autistic children's behaviour relating to time in a mixed-methods study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic children reported significantly lower scores on time management and planning compared to parents of neurotypical children. Qualitative descriptions highlighted three key differences: struggles with learning time concepts, inflexible planning for the future, and time perception heavily influenced by the child's specific interests.
• OTOther2020Measuring the occupational balance of people with insomnia in a Chinese population: Preliminary psychometric evidence on the Chinese version of the Occupational Balance Questionnaire.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTPeople with more severe insomnia had lower occupational balance scores on a Chinese questionnaire. It may help occupational therapists assess sleep-related daily activity balance, but the evidence is preliminary.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Participation and quality of life in persons living with spinal cord injury in Norway.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with spinal cord injury who participated more in work and leisure reported higher life satisfaction and mental health. Sociodemographic factors like income and education were stronger predictors of quality of life than the severity of the injury itself.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Nonpharmacological Treatment for Supporting Social Participation of Adults with Depression.Occupational therapy internationalNonpharmacological interventions like animal-assisted therapy, social engagement programs, and behavioral activation can improve social participation and reduce depressive symptoms in adults. However, evidence for improved quality of life is weak, and no single program was proven superior due to varied study designs.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Cardiovascular health status of taxi/for-hire vehicle drivers in the United States: A systematic review.Work (Reading, Mass.)US taxi drivers show high rates of cardiovascular risks like hypertension, obesity, and inactivity, but evidence is weak due to small, unrepresentative convenience samples. Screening may be warranted, but findings cannot be generalized to all drivers.
• OTSLPSurvey2021Social identities and mental well-being in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults who feel a stronger sense of belonging to their autistic identity, their family, or multiple social groups report lower depression and higher positive mental health. However, autistic traits were a much stronger predictor of well-being than social identity, and having fewer groups was common.
• OTSurvey2021Unemployment and mental health in a community population from a border city in Mexico.Work (Reading, Mass.)Unemployed adults in a Mexican city reported worse mental health than those working, studying, or retired. Housewives had the next-worst scores. Women reported worse mental health than men. Education level made no difference. Being temporarily stopped from work was linked to the best scores.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing, and access to services of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Research in developmental disabilitiesMore than half of caregivers in Chile and over 40% of adults with intellectual disabilities in the U.S. reported worsening mental health during the pandemic. Loss of disability services and physical health problems were linked to increased mental health symptoms in the U.S. sample.
• PTOTCohort2021Coffee consumption and psychological wellbeing among Japanese auto factory workers.Work (Reading, Mass.)Coffee consumption was not significantly associated with poor psychological wellbeing in male Japanese factory workers. Regular exercise and longer sleep were protective factors, particularly for older workers aged 45–60 years.
• OTPilot2021Assessment of organizational readiness for participatory occupational safety, health and well-being programs.Work (Reading, Mass.)A new healthcare workplace survey showed its readiness questions gave consistent answers across 57 usable responses, but it was tested only in healthcare facilities and not yet validated in other workplaces.
• OTQualitative2021Proactive Community Occupational Therapy Service for Social Participation Development of Thai Adults with Depression: A Grounded Theory Study from Occupational Therapists' Perspective.Occupational therapy internationalThai occupational therapists described a community service approach for adults with depression: make depression care part of occupational therapy work, help patients reconnect through family and meaningful activities, and link with local health and government networks.
• OTOther2021Psychometric properties of the Assessment of Positive Occupation 15 final version in individuals with mental illness.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe APO-15 is a reliable tool for assessing positive occupational engagement in people with mental illness. It distinguishes those struggling to engage from those who are not, with a cut-off score of 43. Results support its use in both community and hospital settings.
• PTOTCohort2021Non-motor impairments affect walking kinematics in Parkinson disease patients: A cross-sectional study.NeuroRehabilitationIn early Parkinson's disease, higher fatigue and pain levels correlated with slower walking and longer Timed Up and Go times. Patients with mild cognitive impairment reported worse pain and fatigue than those without, though walking speed did not differ between the groups.
• PTOTOther2021Combining goal setting and achievement with occupational therapy to improve pain, psychological factors and physical activity in patients after high tibial osteotomy: A non-randomized controlled study.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTOT goal setting did not lower walking pain more than usual rehab, but was associated with better depression, more daily steps and more activity time by five weeks.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Work experiences, resources, and beliefs among vulnerable subgroups of mental health care users.Work (Reading, Mass.)Three vulnerable groups with mental illness all reported very low belief in their future worker role, despite different life situations. People with substance use history had the least recent work experience. Recent immigrants had the most work experience but the lowest quality of life. Young people with psychosis had the fewest perceived resources for work.
• PTOTSurvey2021Malnutrition is associated with depression in Japanese older adults requiring long-term care or support.Journal of physical therapy scienceDepression scores were significantly linked to malnutrition risk in older adults needing long-term care. Higher depression scores predicted malnutrition risk. Specific depressive feelings like emptiness and loss of interest were more common in those at nutritional risk.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Psychological interventions with older adults during inpatient postacute rehabilitation: A systematic review.Rehabilitation psychologyPsychological interventions for older adults in inpatient rehab lack high-quality evidence. Anxiety showed no significant improvement. Depression results were mixed and unreliable due to high risk of bias. Clinicians cannot assume these therapies work in this setting.
• OTSurvey2021A mixed methods study of employers' and employees' evaluations of job seekers with a mental illness, disability, or of a cultural minority.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employers and employees rated job seekers with mental illness or physical disability lower than a single mother without health issues. Previous experience with similar colleagues predicted more favourable ratings. Barriers varied by condition: physical disabilities raised concerns about job fit and accommodation, while mental illness raised concerns about social interaction and customer relations.
• OTOther2021Comparing narrative-informed occupational therapy in adult outpatient mental health to treatment as usual: A quasi-experimental feasibility study with preliminary treatment outcomes.Occupational therapy in mental healthAdding narrative-informed occupational therapy to standard mental health care was feasible with high attendance. Therapist-rated participation improved, but client-reported recovery did not change more than standard care alone.
• OTSurvey2021How anxious were Quebec healthcare professionals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic? A web-based cross-sectional survey.Work (Reading, Mass.)Quebec healthcare workers who reported intention to avoid caring for COVID patients had higher anxiety, especially women and less experienced staff. Caring for COVID patients itself was not linked to higher anxiety.
• OTRCT2021Mindfulness meditation training in an occupational setting: Effects of a 12-weeks mindfulness-based intervention on wellbeing.Work (Reading, Mass.)Distress and anxiety did not show clear improvement after 12 weekly meditation classes, but employees reported less perceived stress, higher wellbeing, self-compassion, and body awareness.
• OTCohort2021Knowledge of Infant Development and Parent Well-Being: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Toddlers.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPKnowing more about child development did not make parents less stressed or healthier. Across 299 families, caregiver knowledge showed no link to mental health, stress, or general health. Do not assume boosting developmental knowledge will improve parent well-being.
• PTOTOther2021Profile of social self-management practices in daily life with Parkinson's disease is associated with symptom severity and health quality of life.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's disease had seven social self-management profiles. More engagement in home and community activities tracked with less severe symptoms and better quality of life; support engagement did not clearly explain outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Sustained Attention and Working Memory Predict the Number of Days on Health-Related Benefits in the Year Following Occupational Rehabilitation.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor patients on long-term benefits, better sustained attention and working memory at the start of rehab predicted fewer days on benefits one year later. Attention improvement during rehab also predicted fewer benefit days in this group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Emotion recognition impairments and social well-being following right-hemisphere stroke.Neuropsychological rehabilitationChronic right-hemisphere stroke patients with poorer emotion recognition reported losing more social activities. This link held even after accounting for stroke severity and physical limitations. Screening for emotion recognition deficits may help identify patients at risk of social isolation.
• PTOTCohort2021Recovery Courses of Patients Who Return to Work by 3, 6 or 12 Months After Total Knee Arthroplasty.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPatients who returned to work by 3 months after knee replacement had significantly less knee pain and stiffness than those who returned later. Late returners were held back by persistent knee symptoms, not by mental health issues or social factors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021The Impact of Work Loss on Mental and Physical Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Baseline Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationLosing work during the pandemic was linked to much higher rates of distress and poor health. People with less money or fewer social connections suffered the most. Continued work seemed to protect mental health even for those with low social interaction.
• OTCohort2021The Return-to-Work Self-efficacy Questionnaire (RTW-SE): A Validation Study of Predictive Abilities and Cut-off Values for Patients on Sick Leave Due to Anxiety or Depression.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPost-treatment scores on a return-to-work self-efficacy questionnaire separated patients working fully from those on sick leave. Scores of 4.6 or higher predicted full return at 3, 6 and 12 months.
• OTSurvey2021Does it matter what your reasons are when deciding to disclose (or not disclose) a disability at work? The association of workers' approach and avoidance goals with perceived positive and negative workplace outcomes.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with disabilities reported positive outcomes from both disclosing and not disclosing, depending on their reasons. Approach goals linked to positive outcomes; avoidance goals linked to negative ones. Workplace support mattered more than the disclosure choice itself.
• OTCohort2022Identifying Return to Work Self-Efficacy Trajectories in Employees with Mental Health Problems.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployees with mental health problems follow six distinct self-efficacy trajectories. Those with anxiety disorders were more likely to experience decreasing confidence and lower return-to-work rates. Younger employees and those with stress-related issues showed increasing confidence. This suggests tailored support is needed rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
• PTOTCohort2022The Influence of Race, Sex, and Social Disadvantage on Self-reported Health in Patients Presenting With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationLiving in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods was linked to worse physical function, pain interference, anxiety, and depression in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Black race was linked only to higher anxiety, and female sex only to lower physical function. These associations were independent of age and opioid use.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022A Worksite Self-management Program for Workers with Chronic Health Conditions Improves Worker Engagement and Retention, but not Workplace Function.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with chronic conditions improved their sense of engagement and reduced thoughts of quitting after a group self-management program. However, the program did not improve their actual ability to perform job tasks or meet physical and time demands.
• OTCohort2022Employees Receiving Inpatient Treatment for Common Mental Disorders in Germany: Factors Associated with Time to First and Full Return to Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAfter inpatient treatment for common mental disorders, employees with negative return expectations, longer prior absence, or needing individual support had slower return. Worse leadership was linked to slower full return.
• PTOTCohort2021Associations of Multiple Chronic Conditions With Physical Performance and Falls Among Older Adults With Back Pain: A Longitudinal, Population-based Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with back pain and multiple chronic conditions experienced faster physical decline and higher fall risk over six years. Arthritis was the most consistent predictor of worsening function and falls. Screen for arthritis and multimorbidity to identify patients at highest risk of mobility loss.
• OTSurvey2021Indicators of poor mental health and stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic, by disability status: A cross-sectional analysis.Disability and health journalIn April and May 2020, US adults with any disability reported more depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, substance use, and stress than adults without disability: 56.8% versus 18.4% had depressive symptoms, and 20.7% versus 4.1% had suicidal thoughts.