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 22 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTCohort2022Sensory processing in 16p11.2 deletion and 16p11.2 duplication.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with 16p11.2 deletion or duplication often had sensory differences similar to autistic children, especially body position and not noticing sensory input. Scores varied widely, so assess each child's sensory profile rather than assume one pattern.
• OTCohort2022Patterns of sleep disturbances and associations with depressive symptoms in autistic young adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn 304 autistic young adults, low sleep efficiency and delayed sleep phase linked to higher depression scores. Total sleep time did not. Assess how well patients sleep and when they fall asleep, not just how many hours they get.
• OTSurvey2023The experiences and attitudes of family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at different timepoints in the COVID-19 pandemic.Disability and health journalCaregivers surveyed in 2022 reported better wellbeing and self-efficacy than those in 2020, yet two-thirds still felt unsupported and half felt unable to cope. The improvement did not resolve the crisis of unmet needs. Low scores should not be read as resilience, but as survival under strain.
• OTSurvey2022Child Media Use During COVID-19: Associations with Contextual and Social-Emotional Factors.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren spent about 4 hours daily on entertainment screen media outside schoolwork. Mobile apps and games were linked to more behavioral difficulties, problematic media use, and shorter sleep, while video chat and streaming were linked to more prosocial behavior.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Expected Health Benefits as the Ultimate Outcome of Information Available on Stroke Engine, a Knowledge Translation Stroke Rehabilitation Website: Web-Based Survey.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStroke Engine users reported finding information relevant and learning something new. Some reported intending to use it and expecting health benefits, but this was a voluntary website survey, not proof that reading it improves stroke care.
• PTOTOther2023A scalable 12-week exercise and education programme reduces symptoms and improves function and wellbeing in people with hip and knee osteoarthritis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with hip and knee arthritis attending a 12-week gym programme reported less pain and better function. Because there was no control group, we cannot know if the programme caused these changes or if they were natural recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The role of intellectual disability with autism spectrum disorder and the documented cooccurring conditions: A population-based study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism and intellectual disability were more likely to have documented neurological conditions and general developmental delays, but less likely to have recorded diagnoses for ADHD, anxiety, or learning disorders compared to those without intellectual disability.
• OTOther2023The adaptive ability performance test (ADAPT): A factor analytic study in clients with intellectual disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDA Dutch proxy questionnaire for adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning grouped 62 daily skills into eight scales, such as self-care, money, social skills and responsible choices, with similar interpretation across new users.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Mental health problems among transition-aged youth with physical disabilities: an initial evaluation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost transition-aged youth with physical disabilities reported mental health risks, particularly in self-esteem and somatization. Females and those with more functional issues were significantly more likely to score in the at-risk range. Screening for these specific areas is warranted.
• OTSLPQualitative2023A preliminary exploration of different coping strategies used by Korean immigrant parents of autistic children in high versus low family quality of life ratings.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKorean immigrant parents with high family quality of life actively sought information and community support to reduce guilt and build hope. Parents with low quality of life faced language barriers, felt isolated, and struggled with stigma and denial. This describes experiences, not proven treatments.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The Effects of Tinnitus and Tinnitus Annoyance on Need for Recovery After Work: Results of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing.Ear and hearingAfter adjusting for distress, somatization, and hearing disability, having tinnitus or being annoyed by it was not associated with a higher need for recovery after work. The apparent link in unadjusted data disappeared once these psychological and auditory factors were accounted for.
• OTSLPOther2023Maladaptive behaviors in children with autism and parental hopelessness: The moderating role of parental reflective functioning.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren’s maladaptive behaviors, especially autism-specific symptoms like tics or ignoring others, predicted higher parental hopelessness. This link was strongest in parents with lower reflective functioning, meaning those who struggle to interpret their child’s behavior through mental states were most at risk.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sleep problems in autism: Sex differences in the school-age population.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic girls had the highest rates of sleep problems, affecting 84.4% compared to 65.8% of autistic boys and about 43% of typically developing children. Anxiety predicted poor sleep in boys, but not in girls.
• OTSLPOther2023Predictors of individual differences in minimally verbal peer communication exchanges following peer-oriented social intervention.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with higher baseline social communication difficulties or restricted behaviors showed less progress in peer interactions. However, those with greater sensory or executive challenges sometimes improved more with intervention, suggesting specific barriers might respond well to structured peer support.
• OTSLPOther2023Psychiatric inpatient admissions and discharges of people with intellectual disabilities: A time series analysis of English national data.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDInpatient numbers for people with intellectual disabilities in England fell by 21-24%, missing the 35-50% target. Community nursing staff declined sharply. Care and treatment reviews were associated with more admissions, though post-admission reviews linked to more discharges.
• OTOther2023Association between employment status and quality of life for individuals with intellectual or developmental disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeople with intellectual disabilities reported being satisfied with their lives despite objective conditions like low pay and limited community access. Competitive employment improved objective scores for safety and productivity compared to unemployment or work centers, but subjective satisfaction did not differ by employment status.
• OTQualitative2023Health Management Occupations During COVID-19: Experiences of Older African Americans With Multimorbidity.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthOlder African Americans with multiple chronic conditions said pandemic closures and fear interrupted care, medication, exercise, and social routines. OTs can target habits and community supports. Some participants also reported respite, home routines, and new connections.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023The Community Rehabilitation Assessment: patient and clinician-reported outcomes in ambulatory rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients in ambulatory rehab showed large improvements in daily activities and walking speed. The new assessment captured these changes, but without a control group, it is unclear how much was due to treatment versus natural recovery.
• OTOther2022Alberta Rating Index for Apps: Study of Reliability and Validity.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieA new tool for rating mental health apps showed moderate to high reliability for occupational therapists and adults with mental health conditions, but low reliability for older adults. Therapists rated apps stricter than other groups. The tool correlates moderately with existing scales.
• OTSLPCohort2023How do autistic people fare in adult life and can we predict it from childhood?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOnly 5% of autistic young adults lived independently, and many needed support from family or services. Childhood IQ and adaptive skills could forecast living situation and employment, but not mental health or friendships.
• OTCohort2023The cognitive profile of middle-aged and older adults with high vs. low autistic traits.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMiddle-aged and older adults with high autistic traits performed worse on working memory and complex attention tasks than matched peers. They reported more cognitive decline, but this self-report difference disappeared when depression symptoms were controlled. Informant reports showed no group differences.
• OTQualitative2022Healthy Mothers Healthy Families, Health Promoting Activity Coaching for mothers of children with a disability: Exploring mothers' perspectives of programme feasibility.Australian occupational therapy journalMothers of children with disabilities valued brief health coaching from their child's OT, feeling 'seen' rather than just a caregiver. They found the accountability helpful but noted the programme required their own effort to change habits, and did not replace medical care.
• OTQualitative2022'I'm institutionalised … there's not much I can do': Lived experience of housing related delayed discharge.Australian occupational therapy journalTen consumers waiting for housing described being institutionalised by a total loss of choice. They could not control basic routines, access meaningful activities, or arrange their own discharge, leading to reduced well-being and anticipated difficulties transitioning back to the community.
• OTOther2023Activity and Participation, Bimanual Function, and Prosthesis Satisfaction are Strong Predictors of General Well-Being Among Upper Limb Prosthesis Users.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFor upper limb prosthesis users, feeling able to take part in social roles, doing two-handed tasks, being satisfied with the prosthesis, and having less pain interference were linked to better well-being. Daily wear time was not linked to well-being.
• OTSurvey2023Radiographers' musculoskeletal health in Western Switzerland: WRMSDs symptoms prevalence and risk factors.Work (Reading, Mass.)Radiographers in Western Switzerland reported musculoskeletal symptoms very often, especially neck and low back. Awkward postures, force, inadequate equipment, stress, and being a woman were associated with symptoms.
• OTSurvey2022Sensory approaches in psychiatric units: Patterns and influences of use in one Australian health region.Australian occupational therapy journalMost clinicians used sensory approaches with only a small share of patients. Training and occupational therapy roles were the strongest links to frequent use. Seclusion reduction was rarely a stated goal.
• OTSystematic Review2023Educational Technologies for Teaching Social Skills to Individuals With Schizophrenia: Scoping Review.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthEducational technologies like VR and apps show promise for social skills in schizophrenia, but evidence is mostly from small pilots. They work best as add-ons to standard therapy, especially when goals are personalized, rather than as standalone cures.
• OTSLPOther2023Introducing the READY Study: DHH Young people's Well-Being and Self-Determination.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationIn DHH young people, self-determination scores predicted well-being scores far better than background factors like sex, sexuality, or deafness severity. The cohort reported low well-being overall, with only 3% in the high range.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Factors Influencing Hearing Help-Seeking and Hearing Aid Uptake in Adults: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade.Trends in hearingSeverity of hearing loss and self-reported disability strongly predict hearing aid uptake, but age and sex do not. Financial support and positive attitudes toward aids also drive adoption. Social pressure helps people seek help, but demographic factors are poor guides for screening.
• OTQualitative2023Autistic and non-autistic young people's and caregivers' perspectives on COVID-19-related schooling changes and their impact on emotional well-being: An opportunity for change?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young people reported reduced anxiety and better focus during lockdown due to removed social and sensory demands. Non-autistic peers reported benefits less frequently. Both groups valued flexible pacing and reduced sensory load, suggesting schools should retain these adjustments post-pandemic.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Mental health services and resources for children with developmental disabilities and their families: scan of local practices, gaps, and opportunities created.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA scan of Montreal-area mental health services for children with developmental disabilities found they are hard to access. Most require referrals, have waitlists, or restrict age and location, and few offer follow-up care. Services often target the child but ignore the family unit.
• OTCohort2022Learning from lived experience: Outcomes associated with students' involvement in co-designed and co-delivered recovery-oriented practice workshops.Australian occupational therapy journalOccupational therapy students showed significant gains in recovery knowledge and capabilities after workshops co-delivered by three lived experience educators. However, without a control group, it is impossible to know if these changes were caused by the educators or simply by the semester's teaching.
• OTOther2022The impact of face-to-face mental health consumer-led teaching on occupational therapy student empathy levels: Two group comparison design.Australian occupational therapy journalSecond-year occupational therapy students who received tutorials led by mental health consumers showed no greater empathy than those taught by standard tutors. Both groups had high baseline scores and marginal, non-significant changes, suggesting this single tutorial did not impact empathy levels.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Multidimensional motor performance in children with autism mostly remains stable with age and predicts social communication delay, language delay, functional delay, and repetitive behavior severity after accounting for intellectual disability or cognitive delay: A SPARK dataset analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMotor difficulties in children with autism remain stable from age 5 to 15. Poor motor performance predicts social, language, and functional delays even after accounting for intellectual disability. Therapists should screen for motor issues beyond early childhood and not assume delays resolve with age.
• OTQualitative2022'What's she doing here?' Overcoming barriers to the implementation of Expert by Experience positions in academia.Australian occupational therapy journalAcademics supporting 'Expert by Experience' roles in health education faced stigma and funding hurdles. They used informal advocacy and creative budgeting to overcome resistance. Colleagues' attitudes often softened over time as they became familiar with the roles. Institutional barriers remained significant.
• OTSystematic Review2022A scoping review of online international student collaboration in occupational therapy education.The British journal of occupational therapyTen low-quality studies of online international collaboration in occupational therapy education reported positive student outcomes, but the evidence was too uneven to show the approach reliably improves cultural competence or practice understanding.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Indicators of health in Down syndrome: A virtual focus group study with patients and their parents.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents and teens with Down syndrome defined health through movement, happiness, and social connection. Parents uniquely highlighted behavior and language as signs of health, noting that communication struggles often manifest as emotional outbursts or withdrawal rather than verbal complaints.
• OTSLPCase-Control2022Autism spectrum disorder symptom expression in individuals with 3q29 deletion syndrome.Molecular autismPeople with 3q29 deletion and autism had similar overall social and repetitive behavior scores to non-syndromic autism, but people without autism had more social disability than typical controls. Social disability can be present without an autism diagnosis in this syndrome.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Assessment by proxy of the SF-36 and WHO-DAS 2.0. A systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineProxy reports on the SF-36 and WHO-DAS 2.0 match patient reports well for physical function but poorly for social and emotional domains. Use proxy data for physical status, but do not rely on it to judge a patient's mental health or social participation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Comparing autism phenotypes in children born extremely preterm and born at term.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren born extremely preterm with autism showed similar core symptoms to term-born children when observed directly. However, parents of preterm children reported fewer repetitive behaviors and stereotyped speech, a difference likely driven by lower rates of prior autism diagnosis in the preterm group.
• OTCohort2023Behavioural adjustment of children with intellectual disability and their sibling is associated with their sibling relationship quality.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRBoth siblings' behaviour links to relationship quality, not just the child with disability. Prosocial behaviour from the child with intellectual disability strongly predicted intimacy and companionship. Being younger than the sibling with disability predicted more closeness and more conflict. Parents' views matter more than the child's diagnosis.
• OTSLPSurvey2023Development of stigma-related support for autistic adults: Insights from the autism community.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost autistic adults and caregivers who responded supported stigma help, but many warned it must not blame autistic people. They wanted flexible, positive support focused on self-acceptance, disclosure choices, and practical strategies.
• OTOther2023Extension, austerity, and emergence: Themes identified from a global scoping review of non-urban occupational therapy services.Australian occupational therapy journalNon-urban occupational therapy services often copied urban models and blamed rural geography for limited access. Some Global South and First Nations work instead built services around local context and community knowledge.
• OTSystematic Review2023Intersectional perspectives on the employment rate in Supported Employment for people with psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, or intellectual disabilities: A scoping review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Supported Employment appears to help people with psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, or intellectual disabilities get jobs regardless of their sex, race, age, or education level. However, most studies were too small to detect real differences, so this finding is uncertain.
• OTOther2022Partnering with people living with dementia and care partners in technology research and design: Reflections and recommendations.Australian occupational therapy journalA small research team reflected on partnering with people living with dementia to design technology. They recommend agreeing on the value of lived experience, engaging partners from the start, asking rather than assuming how to work, and challenging rigid research and design cultures.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychiatric and Medical Diagnoses Among Autistic Adults.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults had more psychiatric and medical diagnoses than non-autistic adults, but Black, Hispanic, and Asian autistic adults received fewer psychiatric diagnoses than White autistic adults. These gaps likely reflect under-detection and access barriers rather than lower actual need.
• OTPilot2023Community-guided measurement-based care for autistic youth and adults receiving psychotherapy: A conceptual overview and pilot implementation study of MBC-AUT.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic clients and caregivers rated a monthly survey system acceptable, and 14 of 18 completed it consistently. Interviews reported benefits, including easier self-report than interviews, and barriers, including survey fatigue and clinician time.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Outcomes of an interdisciplinary return to work intervention including occupational therapy for mood and adjustment disorders: A single-arm clinical trial.Work (Reading, Mass.)Thirty people with mood or adjustment disorders completed a three-month interdisciplinary return-to-work program led by occupational therapists. Full-time return rates rose from 6.7% at three months to 82.6% at two years, alongside improved readiness and function.
• OTOther2022Factor Analysis and Mental Health Prevention of Employee Turnover under the Profit-Centered Development of Modern Service Industry.Occupational therapy internationalAfter 12 weeks of standard dance, employees had lower mental health symptom scores than controls on eight factors. Terror and paranoia did not.
• OTSLPOther2023Prevalence and treatment of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders in children with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A population-based study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with both autism and ADHD have much higher rates of anxiety, depression, and conduct problems than those with either condition alone. Despite this, they receive behavioral treatment at similar rates to children with autism only, while nearly three-quarters take psychotropic medication.