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 23 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Psychological strengths and well-being: Strengths use predicts quality of life, well-being and mental health in autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults reported using their personal strengths less often than non-autistic adults. However, using strengths was strongly linked to better quality of life, well-being, and mental health in both groups. Interventions should focus on general strengths use, not just autism-specific traits.
• OTSLPCohort2023Sex differences in the course of autistic and co-occurring psychopathological symptoms in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn adolescents with autism, social communication difficulties were similar for males and females. However, autistic males showed more repetitive behaviors and resistance to change than females. Anxiety and depression increased in females but decreased in males, a pattern identical to those without autism.
• OTSurvey2023Nurses' assessed self-efficacy levels to medical asepsis and their relation to structural empowerment, work engagement and work-related stress.Work (Reading, Mass.)Nurses reported high confidence in medical asepsis, but only small positive links to empowerment, engagement and lower stress. Confidence was not measured against observed asepsis behaviour, so this does not show that better working conditions improve infection control.
• OTCohort2023Impact of COVID-19 on employment: sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric and neuropsychological correlates.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with long COVID who took extra time off work had more severe symptoms, fatigue, mood problems and lower cognitive test scores. Those who felt work performance suffered reported fatigue and executive difficulty despite similar cognitive test scores.
• OTQualitative2023Health in Down syndrome: creating a conceptual model.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRExperts, parents, and teens with Down syndrome described health as physical, social, and mental well-being. They added Down syndrome-specific topics such as sleep, hearing, vision, immunity, school inclusion, and family factors.
• OTQualitative2022"Moving on to an Open World": A Study of Participants' Experience in Meaningful Activities and Recovery (MA&R).Occupational therapy internationalParticipants described the program as a practical course, not therapy, and said small familiar activities became more meaningful. They valued one-on-one support from an occupational therapist and a peer-worker, but group differences reduced connectedness.
• OTNarrative Review2022A Narrative Review of the Usage of Creative Solutions to Enhance Disabled Patients' Quality of Life and Wellbeing by Occupational Therapists.Occupational therapy internationalCreative activities help disabled patients express themselves, build self-esteem, and improve wellbeing. Therapists need to recognize creativity as a core treatment tool, not just an optional extra, to better support patients' quality of life.
• OTSurvey2023Food insecurity among New York City taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers.Work (Reading, Mass.)Nearly four in ten New York City taxi drivers were food insecure. Insecurity linked to higher stress, depression history, and skipped medical visits. Drivers whose income failed to meet basic needs had significantly lower odds of being food secure.
• OTNarrative Review2023Leadership and well-being of employees in the Nordic countries: A literature review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Leadership affects employee well-being mostly indirectly, by shaping the work environment and social climate. Transformational and supportive styles link to job satisfaction, but the specific behaviours that cause these changes remain unclear and context-dependent.
• OTSurvey2023CRISIS AFAR: an international collaborative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and service access in youth with autism and neurodevelopmental conditions.Molecular autismYouth with autism or neurodevelopmental conditions split into four pandemic impact groups. Only 20% had broad symptom worsening, and this group did not have the greatest service loss. Sleep problems worsened on average, while service losses varied widely.
• OTQualitative2023Exploring the perspectives of 'young adults' (18-24) who have been in formal care and their experiences of attending a socially prescribed community allotment gardening group.The British journal of occupational therapyCare leavers described allotment gardening as a safe space where shared physical tasks with peers reduced isolation. The group offered respite from past trauma, allowing them to build confidence and social connections without scrutiny.
• OTCohort2023Social Network Diversity and Mental Health Among Mothers of Individuals With Autism.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesHaving a wider variety of relationships, not just more friends, protected mothers of adults with autism against depression over 12 years. Mothers with diverse networks had lower symptoms, and those with fewer symptoms maintained more diverse ties.
• OTQualitative2023Managers' and employees' experiences of how managers' wellbeing impacts their leadership behaviours in Swedish small businesses.Work (Reading, Mass.)Managers' wellbeing visibly shaped their leadership: feeling well made them more available and supportive, while feeling unwell led to withdrawal and irritability. Employees noticed these shifts but reported little lasting impact on their work, as stable relationships and mutual support buffered the negative effects.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Factors influencing the mental health of autistic children and teenagers: Parents' observations and experiences.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents identified school environment and communication skills as critical for their autistic teenagers' mental health. Bullying, sensory overload, and rigid academic expectations worsened anxiety, while specialist schools with accepting peers and visual supports improved well-being. Lack of ongoing support services left parents feeling helpless.
• OTQualitative2023Losing Life's Sparkle: Experiences of Canadian Choral Musicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieChoral musicians reported that pandemic restrictions turned music-making into a source of fear and isolation. Masks and distancing blocked the social connection and audience feedback they rely on for mental health and identity, making rehearsals feel unsatisfying and disconnected.
• OTSurvey2023Telehealth Utilization Among Occupational Therapists in Oncology: Results From a National Survey.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthMost oncology OTs believed telehealth was a good idea for treatments and consultation, but only 4% reported actually using it. They saw it as best for education, quality of life, and psychosocial support, while preferring in-person care for hands-on physical treatment.
• OTSurvey2023Organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors associated with self-rated exhaustion disorder among municipal employees in rural northern Sweden.Work (Reading, Mass.)Municipal employees with self-rated exhaustion disorder reported higher quantitative and emotional demands, more conflicts, and less social support, resources, and time than those without. Both groups faced higher emotional demands and fewer resources than the national Swedish average.
• OTOther2023Evaluation and Analysis of Elderly Mental Health Based on Artificial Intelligence.Occupational therapy internationalCommunity-dwelling older adults with depression showed lower symptom scores after three months of comprehensive psychological intervention combined with health education compared to health education alone. The study also identified risk factors for depression, including living alone and physical illness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Lifetime Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents with Unexplained Weight Loss, Underweight, or Poor Appetite.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdolescents presenting with unexplained weight loss, underweight, or poor appetite had a 69.6% lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder and a 21.3% prevalence of eating disorders. These symptoms should trigger comprehensive mental health screening and close follow-up, not just nutritional intervention.
• OTRCT2023Worker role perceptions and work participation among people with mental health issues taking part in interventions focusing on everyday life.Work (Reading, Mass.)Both activity-based occupational therapy interventions improved how capable participants felt for work, but neither changed their belief they could hold a job in the future. Satisfaction with non-work daily life and self-esteem drove these gains in work readiness.
• OTOther2023Meaningful Activity, Psychosocial Wellbeing, and Poverty During COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapiePeople living in poverty reported that physical distancing restrictions made daily life harder and reduced meaningful activity. Depression and anxiety spiked in the autumn of 2020 but returned to baseline by the following spring. Alcohol use increased, though not to hazardous levels.
• OTSystematic Review2023A scoping review of interventions using occupation to improve mental health or mental wellbeing in adolescent populations.The British journal of occupational therapyThe most common occupation or activity interventions for adolescent mental health were physical activity and relaxation, often delivered in schools, and were reported to have some benefits. Study quality was low, and none targeted choice or balance of everyday occupations.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Family Perspectives on In-Home Multimodal Longitudinal Data Collection for Children Who Function Across the Developmental Spectrum.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFamilies want in-home data collection to be flexible, pausable during medical crises, and to include siblings. They value receiving their own data to understand their child's invisible symptoms. This feedback shapes how to design accessible research for complex needs.
• OTOther2023Refining the psychometric properties of the Trinity Student Occupational Performance Profile - A self-report measure of occupational performance difficulties within the student role.The British journal of occupational therapyThe refined Trinity Student Occupational Performance Profile is a 54-item self-report measure for university students. It reliably identifies specific occupational difficulties, helping therapists target interventions on high-demand areas like managing anxiety and time pressures.
• OTQualitative2023Louisiana trucking companies' implementation of workplace health promotion programs: Explanatory sequential mixed method case study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Trucking company staff valued health programs but cited lack of time and resources as barriers. Drivers were seen as needing incentives to participate, while logistical complexity and competing safety priorities hindered implementation.
• OTCohort2023Quality of life, sense of coherence and occupational balance one year after an occupational therapy intervention for people with depression and anxiety disorders.Work (Reading, Mass.)People with depression and anxiety who kept working or returned to work improved their quality of life, while those on continuous sick leave did not. All groups showed some gains in occupational balance, but small sample sizes mean these patterns are tentative.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Respite and connection: Autistic adults' reflections upon nature and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost autistic adults found nature provided respite from sensory overload and isolation during lockdowns, while others felt excluded by restrictions or anxious in crowds. Nature was not a universal solution; experiences varied from relief to disconnection.
• OTSystematic Review2023How physical home workspace characteristics affect mental health: A systematic scoping review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Home noise, low light, thermal discomfort, poor air quality and no dedicated workroom were linked to worse concentration, sleep, stress and productivity. These are associations from mainly cross-sectional studies, not tested causes.
• OTSystematic Review2023Martha Rogers' science of unitary human beings in relation to workers health and well-being: A scoping review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Only five studies applied this nursing theory to worker well-being, all involving nurses. The theory was rarely used adequately. Findings linked stress and job satisfaction to social support and environment, but the evidence base is too sparse to guide practice.
• PTOTOther2023Quality of Physical Activity Participation Among Adults with Disabilities Through Pandemic Restriction.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieAdults with disabilities described losing independence and motivation during pandemic restrictions. They adapted by using home exercises and online classes, but relied heavily on social support. No baseline factor predicted later quality of activity, so clinicians cannot assume one variable drives participation.
• PTOTRCT2023Effect of five-elements music therapy combined with Baduanjin qigong on patients with mild COVID-19.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn hospitalized patients with mild COVID-19, adding five-elements music and Baduanjin qigong to routine nursing lowered anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance scores more than routine nursing alone. The study was small, single-site, and had no follow-up, so the durability of these gains is unknown.
• OTPilot2023Student-led occupational performance coaching in a university setting.The British journal of occupational therapyClient-rated goals improved, but mental health results were mixed. Depression and anxiety improved, while stress change was uncertain.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Exploring the Experiences of Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary Adults in Seeking Gender Identity Health Care.Autism in adulthoodAutistic transgender and non-binary adults reported being denied or delayed gender healthcare due to providers misinterpreting autism as mental illness or incompetence. Participants described hiding their autistic identity to avoid gatekeeping and highlighted the need for sensory-friendly environments and clear, written communication.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Anxiety, depression, and well-being in autistic adults and adults with other developmental disabilities: A longitudinal cross-lagged analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn adults with autism or developmental disabilities, caregiver-reported anxiety predicted later depression, but depression did not predict later anxiety. Depression linked to lower purpose and growth, while both anxiety and depression linked to lower self-acceptance.
• OTRCT2023Effects of health qigong exercise on sleep and life quality in patients with drug abuse.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMale patients with drug abuse who did Health Qigong or aerobic exercise reported better sleep, and measured sleep improved. Health Qigong gave more benefit than radio gymnastics on several sleep and quality-of-life scores.
• OTCohort2023Effect of combining motivational interviewing with cognitive remediation on personal recovery in patients with schizophrenia.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTAdding monthly motivational interviews to cognitive remediation did not significantly improve programme completion rates, though more patients finished. Among those who completed, the interview group showed greater gains in global functioning and hope than the group without interviews.
• OTOther2023Sensory processing, autonomic nervous function, and social participation in people with mental illnesses.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn people with mental illness, lower parasympathetic activity was linked to higher sensory avoidance, which in turn was associated with reduced social participation. This suggests assessing sensory processing patterns before interventions aimed at increasing social engagement.
• OTSurvey2023Sexuality and ageing: A mixed methods explorative study of older adult's experiences, attitudes, and support needs.The British journal of occupational therapyMany older adults rated being a sexual person important, defined sexuality through pleasure, relationships and intimacy, and said clinicians rarely raised it. They asked for open conversations, online resources and age-specific services.
• OTSurvey2023Healthcare and Behavior Changes for Adults With Down Syndrome 1-Year Into COVID-19.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesCaregivers of 438 adults with Down syndrome reported pandemic losses: 12% kept employment, most lost activities, and nearly half showed behavior changes, including anxiety, depression, boredom, and skill loss.
• OTOther2023Immersive virtual reality: An effective strategy for reducing stress in young adults.The British journal of occupational therapyYoung adults described the beach VR session as relaxing, easy to use, and a distraction from stress. The paper recorded lower heart rate after the session, but no control group tested whether VR caused it.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Examining the latent structure and correlates of sensory reactivity in autism: a multi-site integrative data analysis by the autism sensory research consortium.Molecular autismCaregiver questionnaires often combine sensory behaviors across different senses into single scores. This study found that while overall hyperreactivity scores are valid, hyporeactivity and seeking scores are not. Clinicians should assess sensory issues by specific sense rather than relying on broad totals.
• PTOTCohort2024The effect of depression on prosthesis prescription in men and women who have undergone a lower limb amputation.Disability and rehabilitationVeterans with depression were less likely to receive a prosthesis, especially women. Men with transtibial amputations and depression had over three times the odds of receiving a prescription compared to women with the same profile. This disparity suggests depression acts as a specific barrier to care for women veterans.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Feasibility of performing a multi-arm clinical trial examining the novel combination of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and aerobic exercise for post-stroke depression.Topics in stroke rehabilitationCombining brain stimulation and treadmill walking is feasible for post-stroke depression, with high adherence and mild side effects. Preliminary data suggest both interventions reduce symptoms, but the study is too small to prove which treatment works or if the combination is superior to either alone.
• PTOTOther2023The global state of play: A study of the demographic characteristics of disability golfers.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost registered golfers with disability were men over 45, came from high-income countries, and 62.6% needed a golf cart. Golfers with neurologic, spinal cord, or visual impairments had worse golf handicaps.
• OTCohort2023The Impact of Work Incentives Benefits Counseling on Employment Outcomes: A National Vocational Rehabilitation Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationClients with disabilities receiving Social Security benefits who got work-incentives counseling were more likely to have competitive employment (34.3% vs 29.4%), but among those employed they earned less per hour and worked fewer weekly hours.
• PTOTCohort2024Diagnostic profiles associated with long-term opioid therapy in active duty servicemembers.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationActive duty servicemembers with complex combinations of pain and mental health conditions were far more likely to receive long-term opioid therapy than those with single issues. The 'Multisystem Multimorbid' profile had over nine times the odds of long-term use compared to the 'Relatively Healthy' group.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Establishing General Working Population Norms for the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorking adults in the Netherlands reported an average score of 25.1 on a 0-100 scale for work-related cognitive symptoms. Scores were stable across age groups except for the youngest adults, who reported more symptoms. These norms help therapists judge if a cancer survivor's self-reported cognitive complaints are unusual.
• OTCohort2023Residual Work Capacity and (In)Ability to Work Fulltime Among a Year-Cohort of Disability Benefit Applicants Diagnosed with Mental and Behavioural Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost disability applicants with mental disorders retain some work capacity, but outcomes vary sharply by diagnosis. Schizophrenia and mood disorders predict no capacity, while adjustment and anxiety disorders predict full-time ability. Diagnosis matters when assessing work disability.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Integrated Mental Healthcare and Vocational Rehabilitation for People on Sick Leave with Anxiety or Depression: 24-Month Follow-up of the Randomized IBBIS Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor people on sick leave with anxiety or depression, an integrated mental health and vocational rehabilitation program did not improve return-to-work rates or self-reported health at 24 months compared to standard services. Differences were only seen when compared to a mental-health-only arm, not usual care.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Turning apathy into action in neurodegenerative disease: Development and pilot testing of a goal-directed behaviour app.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with mild dementia used a goal-setting app for four weeks and achieved significantly more self-identified goals, particularly in brain health and housework. However, this did not translate to improved daily functioning or reduced caregiver burden, and the study lacked a control group.