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 28 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Service guidelines, models, and protocols for integrating rehabilitation services in primary healthcare in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa: a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitationRehabilitation is rarely integrated into primary care in BRICS countries. Most models rely on community health workers, often without proper supervision by therapists. This limits access and quality, particularly for speech and physical therapy services in remote areas.
• PTOTCohort2024Psychological predictors of performance-based physical functioning among pediatric pain program participants.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineYouth in a four-week pain program improved on treadmill endurance and gross motor tests. Baseline depression predicted worse endurance and catastrophizing predicted worse motor skills, but neither predicted outcomes after treatment.
• OTSLPQualitative2024The effectiveness of the use of a technology toolkit on activities and mother-child interactions: children with complex care needs.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologySome children with complex care needs stayed longer with toolkit items such as a vibrating speaker or talking parrot, and mothers sometimes followed their lead more in four families observed at home. The researcher's presence may have shaped these observations.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Wellbeing After Finalization of a Workers' Compensation Claim: A Systematic Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationInjured workers who had finished a workers' compensation claim often had ongoing poor health, unstable work and financial strain. No study directly measured overall wellbeing, so these are related outcomes, not a confirmed wellbeing finding.
• PTOTCohort2024Patterns of Mental Health Service Use in Australian Workers with Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationOnly 9.7% of workers with low back pain claims received funded mental health services. Those who did wait a median of 26.6 weeks for the first visit. Services were concentrated in workers with long-term time loss, with psychologists providing most care.
• PTOTOther2024Assessment of mental health and quality of life among children with congenital heart disease.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with congenital heart disease had more mood and anxiety disorders than healthy comparison children, and cyanotic children had the lowest quality-of-life scores. The study compares groups. It does not show that treatment works.
• OTOther2024Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Interventions to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders in Blue-Collar Workers: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPreventing musculoskeletal disorders in blue-collar workers is more likely to be implemented when workers help design and choose the program, and when managers support changes. Barriers include rigid production cultures, weak employer support, and too many job rotations.
• PTOTCohort2024Disparities in access but not outcomes: Medicaid versus non-Medicaid patients in multidisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation.Disability and rehabilitationMedicaid patients started pain rehab with worse pain and lower function than non-Medicaid patients, but both groups improved equally over three weeks. Access to multidisciplinary programs remains the barrier, not the effectiveness of the treatment for disadvantaged populations.
• OTSurvey2025Self-Perceived Interpersonal Problems Among Long-Term Unemployed Individuals, and Vocational Rehabilitation Programs (In)ability to Change Them.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAfter one year in a tailored vocational rehabilitation program, self-perceived interpersonal problems did not significantly change in 51 long-term unemployed participants with full responses. They had reported more problems than a Danish general population norm, especially cold/distanced, socially inhibited, vindictive/self-centered, and non-assertive.
• OTQualitative2025Barriers to and Facilitators for Finding and Keeping Competitive Employment: A Focus Group Study on Autistic Adults With and Without Paid Employment.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAutistic adults identified workplace inclusion, supportive supervisors, and job-coaching as key to employment. Those without jobs cited lack of energy, low self-esteem, and fear of losing benefits as barriers. Those with jobs emphasized assertiveness and finding work aligned with personal interests.
• PTOTNarrative Review2024The role of exercise in aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFor breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitor joint pain, combined aerobic and resistance exercise over many months had the strongest support to reduce pain and improve function. Yoga and tai chi were feasible, but evidence is smaller.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Research Letter: Relationship of Blood Biomarkers of Inflammation With Acute Concussion Symptoms and Recovery in the CARE Consortium.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationBlood inflammation markers did not predict how long concussion recovery took. However, higher levels of one marker (IL-1RA) in the first two days were linked to more depression and somatic symptoms, particularly in male athletes.
• OTSurvey2025The Relationship Between Strategic Human Resource Management Practices and the Employment of Vulnerable Workers: A Two-Wave Study Among Employers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationDutch employers that reported using inclusive mission statements, job creation, internships, or government financial supports were more likely to employ vulnerable workers nine months later. General workplace well-being practices showed no such link.
• OTQualitative2025Music Upper Limb Therapy - Integrated (MULT-I) supports a positive transformation in sense of self post stroke: a thematic analysis.Disability and rehabilitationStroke survivors described a three-stage shift in self-perception during group music therapy. Enjoyment and autonomy in playing instruments engaged them, peer support helped process distress, and a sense of belonging fostered acceptance of their changed abilities and strengths.
• OTQualitative2025Struggling with Fitting in: Clients Mixed Experiences of Receiving Job Support and Getting a Job When Participating in Individual Placement and Support in Norway.Journal of occupational rehabilitationTen people with severe mental illness described mixed experiences of job support. They valued accessible specialists but felt let down by poor job matches and insufficient on-site guidance. Many struggled with workplace triggers and called for more flexible, hands-on support to sustain employment.
• PTOTPilot2025Examining patient reported outcome measures for phantom limb pain: measurement use in a sample of Veterans with amputation.Disability and rehabilitationPhantom limb pain ratings did not line up strongly with pain interference in this pilot of 50 Veterans. General pain ratings did, so phantom limb pain scores may miss how much pain affects daily life.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Resilience and coping: a qualitative analysis of cognitive and behavioral factors in adults with osteogenesis Imperfecta.Disability and rehabilitationAdults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta described building resilience by separating their identity from their diagnosis and reframing physical limitations as opportunities for growth. They relied heavily on social support, planning ahead, and acceptance of pain rather than trying to control what they could not change.
• OTMeta-Analysis2024The effectiveness of social prescribing in the management of long-term conditions in community-based adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical rehabilitationSocial prescribing did not significantly improve HbA1c levels in the pooled analysis. However, some studies reported benefits for quality of life, physical activity, and diabetes-related distress. Most included trials had a high risk of bias and used varying outcome measures, limiting confidence in these positive findings.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Psychological distress and mental health diagnoses in adults by disability and functional difficulty status: Findings from the 2021 national health interview survey.Disability and health journalAdults with functional difficulty had 3.63 times greater odds of anxiety and 3.82 times greater odds of depression than those without. Psychological distress remained significantly higher in disabled adults even after controlling for these diagnoses, suggesting unmet mental health needs beyond current treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Silent Struggles: Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mental Health in Law Enforcement.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMost officers in one county reported head injuries, but screening for PTSD showed no difference between those with and without them. Depression scores were higher in officers with head injuries, yet the cross-sectional design cannot prove the injuries caused this.
• OTQualitative2025Lifestyle Dimensions of Public Safety Personnel Families: There's No Life Like It.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPublic safety personnel families face unique lifestyle pressures in logistics, risks, and identities. Shiftwork disrupts routines, trauma exposure causes emotional disengagement, and community expectations create tension. These factors compound normal family stressors, requiring tailored support rather than generic advice.
• PTOTSurvey2024The hidden crisis: Long COVID's association with housing stability and home accessibility among people with disabilities.Disability and health journalAmong adults with disabilities surveyed, those reporting Long COVID more often had unstable housing, cost worries, poor home conditions, and homes that did not support them. Therapists should ask about home access and money when planning care.
• PTOTCohort2024Nonopioid analgesic use in older patients admitted for orthopedic rehabilitation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationOlder patients in orthopedic rehab who received nonopioid pain meds were younger, had higher BMI, and prior opioid use. They got higher opioid doses than those who did not receive nonopioids, suggesting these drugs were not used to spare opioids.
• PTOTCohort2025Racial disparities in prosthesis abandonment and mobility outcomes after lower limb amputation from a dysvascular etiology in a veteran population.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationOverall prosthesis abandonment was low, but rural Black veterans abandoned their prostheses far more often than others. Urban Black veterans were less likely to achieve advanced mobility. Depression strongly worsened these disparities in both groups.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Relationships between physical activities performed under free-living conditions and non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical rehabilitationIn people with Parkinson's, more everyday physical activity was associated with better cognition and fewer anxiety, depression or apathy symptoms, but not with sleep, fatigue or pain. These are associations, not proof that activity improves symptoms.
• PTOTCohort2025Peripheral neuropathy prevalence and effect on mobility 12 months after prosthesis prescription among individuals with dysvascular lower extremity amputation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationVeterans with dysvascular lower limb amputation and peripheral neuropathy were less likely to achieve independent basic and advanced mobility with a prosthesis 12 months after prescription. The risk was higher for those with transfemoral amputation or major depressive disorder. Screen for neuropathy and depression early in rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025A Directed Content Analysis for Greatest Problems Among People With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with TBI identified financial management and relationship adjustments as their greatest recent problems. Unlike other groups, their top concerns were emotional and cognitive abilities rather than just participation barriers. This suggests care should prioritize addressing mood, family dynamics, and daily functioning challenges alongside physical rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress in women with and without brain injuries due to intimate partner violence: Psychometric evaluation of measurement approaches and group comparisons.Rehabilitation psychologyCommon mental health screens work well for women with brain injuries from partner violence. Differences in depression and PTSD symptoms between those with and without injuries disappeared when accounting for the severity of the violence itself.
• OTSurvey2025The role of perceived social support in subjective wellbeing among working-age U.S. adults with and without limitations in activities of daily living.Disability and health journalWorking-age U.S. adults with activities of daily living limitations reported lower happiness, meaning in life, and life satisfaction than peers without limitations. Perceived emotional and instrumental support were linked to better wellbeing, but support did not erase all differences.
• PTOTQualitative2024Assessment of mood after severe acquired brain injury: Interviews with UK clinical psychologists and medical professionals.Clinical rehabilitationClinical psychologists and medical professionals assessing mood after severe brain injury described no agreed method. They adjusted standardised measures, relied on simple conversation, team and family observations over time, and formulation, and warned that injury symptoms can look like depression.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Health outcomes of former division I college athletes.Brain injuryFormer collision sport athletes reported more cognitive complaints, impulsivity, rage, and sleep apnea than non-collision athletes. However, the 6.2% response rate means these findings may reflect selection bias, so they do not prove collision sports cause these health issues.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Long-term life expectancy in severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineSurvivors of severe traumatic brain injury face significantly reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. The risk of death remains elevated for years, particularly for those with limited mobility or self-care abilities, though independent walking improves survival prospects.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Unveiling the burden of COPD: perspectives on a patient-reported outcome measure to support communication in outpatient consultations-an interview study among patients.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNine COPD patients described how a pre-visit questionnaire helped them identify and disclose hidden psychosocial struggles like loneliness and depression. They valued clinicians asking direct follow-up questions based on these answers, which made conversations feel deeper and more personal.
• OTSLPCohort2025Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Times of COVID-19: Examining Emotional and Behavioral Problems, Parental Well-Being, and Resilience.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism did not show a larger increase in emotional and behavioral problems during the COVID-19 lockdown than typically developing peers. Parental mental health and social connectedness were not associated with how children’s problems changed. Individual variability was high, meaning some children worsened while others remained stable or improved.
• OTOther2025Brief Report: Prevalence and Predictors of DSM-Specific and Distinct Anxiety in Cognitively Impaired Autistic Preschool Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic preschool children with cognitive impairment did not show higher overall anxiety than non-autistic peers. They showed more anxiety when common fears were excluded, especially autism-related worries.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prevalence and Characteristics of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn a diverse metropolitan area, 17.7 per 1,000 adolescents had autism. Prevalence was twice as high in high-income areas compared to low-income areas, and one in four cases remained undiagnosed by age 16.
• PTOTCohort2024Classification Into Different Patient Groups-A Step Toward Tailoring Care After Major Oncological Surgery?Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost patients shifted to low acceptance and control after major cancer surgery. Those in this group had significantly worse physical functioning and higher anxiety than those who kept high acceptance and control. Frequent post-op checks may help target support.
• OTSurvey2024Relationship Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Parent Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life and Social Support.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children and adolescents with ASD who had gastrointestinal symptoms reported more stress about their child being difficult, lower quality of life in social relationships and environment, and less perceived social support. Anxiety and depression did not differ.
• OTSLPRCT2024Socialization, Education, and Learning for the Internet (SELFI): A Pilot RCT of a Social Media Skills Group Program for Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults rated this Facebook skills group as enjoyable and helpful for confidence. Half showed improved online engagement compared to none on the waitlist, but no significant differences appeared in social media anxiety or utility.
• OTSLPPilot2024Applying a Motivational Instructional Design Model to Stroke Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Study on Occupational and Swallowing Therapies.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke patients receiving a structured motivation-support process during OT or swallowing therapy plus usual physical and occupational therapy had no dropouts or adverse events. 84% were satisfied and 76% intended to continue. Outcome changes cannot be separated from usual therapy.
• OTCohort2024Alcohol Use Patterns Among Underage Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersUnderage autistic youth drink less frequently and heavily than non-autistic peers, but those who do drink are more likely to have depression or a history of bullying. They also report lower masking of autistic traits. This suggests prevention strategies need to address these specific risk factors.
• PTOTCohort2024Multidisciplinary Home-Based Rehabilitation Program for Individuals With Disabilities: Longitudinal Observational Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesBalance scores increased after a 4-month home rehabilitation program in 270 people with moderate musculoskeletal or neurological disabilities. Depression scores showed no clear change. Many therapies were given together, so no single treatment can be credited.
• OTOther2025Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Youth with Autism Enrolled in Medicaid.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAbout half of autistic youth on Medicaid filled a psychotropic prescription each year, down from 54 to 44 percent. Use rose with age and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. The study did not show whether medications helped or harmed.
• OTOther2024Investigating the Mediating Role of Executive Function in the Relationship Between ADHD and DCD Symptoms and Depression in Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEveryday executive function difficulties fully explained the link between ADHD or DCD symptoms and depression in adults. Behavioural regulation, emotional control, and planning were key mediators. This suggests targeting these functions may help mental health, but the study cannot prove cause.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025The intersection of systemic lupus erythematosus with social and occupational environments among black adults: A qualitative study.Disability and health journalBlack adults with lupus described how work conditions worsened symptoms while accommodations helped. Peer support offered unique information but caused distress when comparing severe cases. Family provided essential care and financial aid, though dependence and lack of understanding impacted self-worth.
• OTQualitative2025Navigating the Transition to Adulthood: Insights from Caregivers of Autistic Individuals.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNine of ten caregivers of autistic adults said services stopped after high school. They described hunting for adult supports, confusing Regional Center information, long waits, and programs that ignored their child's interests, leaving families exhausted.
• OTSLPSurvey2024What are the autism research priorities of autistic adults in Scotland?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in Scotland prioritized mental health, diagnosis, and lifespan services, while ranking genetic and behavioral intervention research lowest. They explicitly rejected therapies aimed at making them less autistic, favoring support that improves daily life and accessibility instead.
• PTOTRCT2025Causal Mediation Analysis of Factors Influencing Physical Activity and Community Access Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson Disease.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationBaseline walking self-efficacy predicted increased physical activity, and walking capacity predicted broader community access. However, non-motor symptoms like back pain and cognitive flexibility did not mediate these relationships, suggesting direct behavioral and physical capacities drive outcomes more than indirect symptom pathways.
• OTSurvey2024Occurrence and predictors of lifetime suicidality and suicidal ideation in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAmong 1164 autistic adults, 80% reported lifetime suicidal thoughts or attempts; among 421 who completed more items, half had thoughts in the past month. Loneliness, psychiatric comorbidity, and more autistic traits were associated with lifetime suicidal behavior.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Using Q-sort method to explore autistic students' views of the impacts of their anxiety at school.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students reported anxiety most strongly impacted schoolwork, making it hard to start, concentrate, or do their best. They also described freezing, masking feelings, and struggling to listen. These varied impacts mean a single anxiety profile does not fit all students.