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 32 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSurvey2024Association between occupational participation and depressive symptoms among middle-aged adults: A cross-sectional study in Hokkaido, Japan.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMiddle-aged adults with lower participation in productive activities (work, chores, caregiving) reported more depressive symptoms. Satisfaction with leisure also linked to fewer symptoms, but self-care participation showed no significant association with depression.
• OTRCT2024Psychological and physiological benefits of horticultural therapy for Chinese older adults.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn 100 older women, ten minutes watering indoor plants lowered blood pressure, reduced anxiety and raised relaxation scores versus a seated card game, but pulse, some brainwave measures and attention did not differ.
• OTSLPCohort2026Co-occurring Conditions and Quality of Life in Autistic Children Attending General Education or Special Education Schools.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children in special education had more co-occurring conditions than those in general education. School type alone did not predict quality of life. However, special education students with externalizing conditions had lower quality of life than expected, suggesting their specific needs may not be met there.
• OTSLPRCT2026Mixed Methods Findings from a Stepped Wedge Hybrid Implementation Trial of ATTAIN NAV: A Mental Health Family Navigation Intervention for Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersStandard family navigation for autistic youth without added messaging or dashboards gave caregivers higher satisfaction, faster first mental health appointments, and greater child behaviour improvements than technology-enhanced navigation. Technology-enhanced navigation produced more contacts and referrals.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Prevalence and risk factors of neck pain among middle-aged and older adults in China: a cross-sectional study from the CHARLS cohort.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNearly one in five middle-aged and older adults in China reported neck pain. Women were affected far more often than men. Neck pain was strongly linked to headache, depression, poor sleep, and multiple chronic conditions.
• PTOTOther2024Reliability and validity of five balance assessments battery in individuals with schizophrenia.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn 26 adults with schizophrenia, the Star Excursion Balance Test and Timed Up-and-Go were the most useful balance measures, and best separated people with a fall history from those without.
• OTCohort2024Memory benefits of daily-living-related contextual cueing for individuals with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTHealthy older adults and those with subjective complaints used daily living cues to remember items better than those with mild cognitive impairment. This benefit was lost in older adults with MCI, but retained in younger adults with MCI. Tailor cueing strategies to age and cognitive status.
• PTOTRCT2025Different light color temperatures in the morning on the effectiveness of rehabilitation training in patients with ischemic stroke: a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMorning exposure to cold light (6500 K) during rehabilitation improved neurological function, sleep quality, and physical health scores in stroke patients compared to warm or standard light. Warm light showed no benefit over standard conditions. The effect was seen after four weeks of morning sessions.
• OTSurvey2025Feel the Burn, Heal the Burn: Job Crafting and Burnout Among Occupational Therapy Professionals.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationIn 400 US occupational therapy professionals, workload was most strongly linked to personal and work-related burnout. Community settings had lower work-related burnout than hospital, skilled nursing, or pediatrics. Job crafting was linked to less burnout, but this survey cannot prove it reduces burnout.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026"What My Son Needs Is Me. What I Need Is... Guidance": Caregiver Perspectives About Early Autism Supports Amid Changing Attitudes and Policies.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers valued supports that reduced their mental load and respected their child's identity over specific skill goals. They felt let down by rigid systems and unhelpful advice, preferring therapists who offered practical help and emotional validation.
• OTCohort2025Sensory processing patterns and their relationships to coping and occupational engagement in mental health service users.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 97 mental health service users, lower occupational engagement was linked to higher sensory sensitivity, low registration, and sensation avoiding. Higher engagement was linked to sensation seeking. Avoidant coping was associated with sensation seeking, and emotion-focused coping with low registration.
• OTOther2025Influence of personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) on health, social participation, and life satisfaction: Perspectives from older adults and attendants.Australian occupational therapy journalAttendants perceived improvements in older adults' mental health and life satisfaction, but self-reported scores showed no significant changes. Social participation varied widely, with some increasing activities and others decreasing them. The intervention did not significantly improve physical health or overall life satisfaction.
• OTCohort2025Changes in Psychological Distress in Children With Physical Illness and Their Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Child: care, health and developmentParents reported more distress in themselves and their children with chronic physical illness during the pandemic. Parent distress rose then eased but stayed above pre-pandemic levels; child distress kept rising.
• OTQualitative2025Occupational Performance in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy During COVID-19 at a Public University in KwaZulu-Natal.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapy educators and students described pandemic online learning as stressful, isolating and inequitable. Poor home connectivity, inadequate support, and management decisions without student input harmed learning. Clinical training gaps were feared, while digital skills and open-book assessments were adapted.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Unveiling the veil: Exploring experiences of patient-initiated workplace violence in long-term care and mental health and substance use settings.Work (Reading, Mass.)Staff and families in long-term care and mental health settings linked violence to rushed personal care, privacy violations, and poor communication about behavioral history. They identified specific early warning signs like pacing or sudden silence. The study highlights system gaps rather than testing interventions.
• OTSurvey2025What about neurodiversity among nurses? A cross-sectional exploration of work environment and health among nurses with ADHD and/or autism.Work (Reading, Mass.)Nurses with ADHD or autism reported high workload and poor health, with more than half having taken long-term sick leave for mental illness. However, they remained highly satisfied with the care they provided to patients. Inattention was linked to feeling more work demands, regardless of diagnosis.
• PTOTSurvey2025Does type of provider matter for staff well-being? a cross-sectional study of residential care home workers' job demands and resources.Work (Reading, Mass.)Provider type showed mixed links to staff well-being. Outsourced workers reported higher emotional demands and burnout than public staff. Private workers reported higher job satisfaction and supervisor support but more work-life conflict. Job demands predicted burnout and turnover intentions across all settings.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Lived Experiences of Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain and Implications on Their Daily Life: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOlder adults with chronic low back pain often hide their struggles to avoid burdening family, leading to isolation and despair. They actively seek explanations for their pain to gain credibility with clinicians. Therapists should validate invisible pain and involve families in care plans.
• OTSystematic Review2025Outcome Measures in Evaluation of Weighted Blankets: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalWeighted blanket research is too varied to combine into a single effectiveness score. Adults usually get measured for immediate anxiety relief using simple scales, while children are assessed via sleep trackers and diaries. Standardised tools for long-term effects and daily routines are missing.
• OTPilot2025Neurophysiological effects of altruistically motivated craft activities in occupational therapy: A pilot study using frontal EEG and heart rate variability analysis.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn 15 healthy students, making a craft for someone else increased left frontal brain activity and lowered sympathetic nervous system activity compared to making it for themselves. Task performance was identical, suggesting the motivation itself, not the work, caused these physiological changes.
• PTOTCase Series2025Effects of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG on Motor, Cognition, Mental Health, Occupational Performance, and Occupational Balance in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Single-Subject Experimental Study.Occupational therapy internationalThree men with chronic schizophrenia improved their walking speed, balance, and cognitive scores after four weeks of LSVT-BIG. They also reported better performance in daily tasks and higher occupational balance. This pilot suggests the therapy may help motor and mental symptoms, but evidence is limited to three people.
• PTOTQualitative2025Manager Perspectives on Services Addressing Mental Health Needs of Youth in Physical Rehabilitation.Child: care, health and developmentManagers in physical rehabilitation said mental health care for youth was blocked by unfilled staff roles, unclear mandates, siloed external services and long waits. They wanted partnerships and clearer pathways.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Investigating Developmental Status of Children Aged 0-5 Years and Its Association With Child Gender, Family Background and Geographic Locations in Australian Community-Based Early Learning Centres.Child: care, health and developmentChildren aged 2–3 and boys were more likely to have developmental concerns in language and self-help domains. Children from culturally and linguistically diverse families showed higher risks in language and social-emotional areas. Mid-level socio-economic communities had unexpected academic concerns, while remoteness and Indigenous status showed no significant associations.
• OTSLPCohort2025Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Youth with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities: Clinical Characteristics and Considerations.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYouth with autism or intellectual disability admitted to general psychiatric units were more likely to receive emergency injections for agitation, stay longer, and leave with more medications than peers without these diagnoses, suggesting care gaps in non-specialized settings.
• OTOther2025Expanding Knowledge and Integration of Occupational Therapy in Vietnamese Healthcare: A Study of Educational Interventions and Cultural Relevance.Occupational therapy internationalAfter three journal clubs, 13 healthcare professionals in Vietnam reported knowing more about occupational therapy, especially mental health and client-centered care. They still said too few trained staff and resources made adding OT services difficult.
• OTSLPOther2025Cognitive Flexibility Mediates the Associations Between Perceived Stress, Social Camouflaging and Mental Health Challenges in Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn 806 autistic adults, lower self-reported cognitive flexibility significantly mediated the link between perceived stress, social camouflaging, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This suggests targeting flexible thinking may help buffer mental health risks, though the cross-sectional design cannot prove causation.
• OTCohort2025Identifying Daily Living Skills From Childhood and Adolescence Predictive of Adult Outcomes in a Longitudinal Study of Autism and Related Developmental Conditions.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCommunity daily living skills stayed low through adolescence regardless of IQ. Some personal hygiene and community skills predicted adult employment and well-being, but no skills predicted friendships or independent living.
• OTSLPOther2025Consensus on high-priority outcomes to be used in the evaluation of services for autistic adults: Results from a "CBPR-Nested Delphi Process".Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults, service providers, and researchers agreed on 15 self-reported outcomes for evaluating adult autism services. They also found most existing questionnaires were too hard, too vague, or unable to capture access to communication.
• OTQualitative2025Using Grief for Good: The Transformative Effect of Participatory Action Research for Parents With Intellectual Disability Who Have Experienced Child Removal.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents with intellectual disability who lost custody described the group process as a rare non-judgmental space to share grief. This shared experience helped them turn personal loss into collective advocacy, though the study reports their subjective experience rather than measured clinical outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Cultural safety and First Nations health content within tertiary education for undergraduate health-care students: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalFirst Nations health content is widely included in undergraduate health degrees but delivered inconsistently. Assessment focuses on student knowledge and attitudes rather than demonstrated cultural safety in practice, leaving a gap between what graduates learn and how they work.
• OTQualitative2025'That connection with community… it is just a positive thing': Mentoring autistic adolescents participating in community coding programmes.Australian occupational therapy journalMentors and facilitators described coding clubs as a social process where they gained confidence, skills and community. They reported personal satisfaction and better mental health, but also stress from unclear roles. They asked for more training and clearer expectations to support autistic adolescents effectively.
• OTOther2025The occupational depression inventory confounds depressive symptoms with their assumed work-related causes.Work (Reading, Mass.)This commentary argues that the Occupational Depression Inventory is flawed because it mixes depressive symptoms with assumptions about their work causes. It offers no new clinical data or treatment evidence for therapists to use with patients.
• OTPilot2025Dynamic testing with graduated prompts training: Adolescents with executive function deficits.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTAdolescents with executive function deficits showed large improvements in drawing accuracy and memory after graded prompts training. The gains were immediate and within the same session. No control group was used, so this shows learning potential during testing, not that the intervention works long-term.
• PTOTCohort2025Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy combined with physical therapy on improving outcomes in chronic low back pain.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding six cognitive behavioral therapy sessions to standard physical therapy for chronic low back pain produced greater reductions in pain, disability, and fear of movement than physical therapy alone after 12 weeks.
• OTSurvey2025Exploring the multidimensional occupational participation of young adults with developmental coordination disorder.Australian occupational therapy journalYoung adults with developmental coordination disorder often needed help with daily living and mobility tasks, reported low pleasure in everyday activities, and found social and community activities meaningful and enjoyable.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Access to services for autistic people across Europe.Molecular autismAutistic people in Europe reported failed attempts to access therapy, mental health and autism diagnostic services, and most formally diagnosed participants had waited at least a month for diagnosis. Children and female participants faced more barriers for some services.
• OTNarrative Review2025The relationship between attachment and mental health at work: A narrative review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Secure attachment and supportive leadership are linked to lower burnout and better job satisfaction, while insecure styles correlate with distress. However, this is a narrative review of 39 articles, not a trial, so it offers a framework for understanding workplace mental health rather than evidence for treatment.
• OTSurvey2025A global profile of occupational therapy and primary care: Results from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists survey.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMost countries report occupational therapy in primary care, but access is uneven. High-income nations provide more assistive technology and adolescent services. Funding relies heavily on government, yet shortages and lack of role recognition persist globally, limiting consistent service delivery.
• OTCase Report2025Co-occurring Anxiety in a Child With Autism and ADHD.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn one child with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, neuropsych testing clarified overlapping symptoms. Recommendations included school accommodations, modified CBT, and medication. Parent disagreement delayed treatment, requiring collaborative planning and separate meetings to ensure consistency.
• OTQualitative2025Occupational Therapists' Career Planning, Development, and Progress: An Australian Mental Health Perspective.Occupational therapy internationalSeven senior mental health OTs described career progression as nonlinear and multifaceted. They valued secondments and OT-specific supervision but noted generic career frameworks often lack discipline-specific nuance. Passion for the work and positive student placements were key drivers for entering and staying in the field.
• OTQualitative2025Analyzing Occupational Performance of Children With Handwriting Difficulties: Parent and Teacher Experiences and Perspectives.Occupational therapy internationalParents and teachers described children's handwriting as tied to mood, motivation, confidence, memory, attention, grip and hand use. They also pointed to learning styles, parent-teacher collaboration, and sibling or peer influence as supports or barriers.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Thriving for Adolescents With Intellectual Disability: A Photo-Elicitation Qualitative Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdolescents with intellectual disability defined thriving as five elements: enjoying life, developing, having a positive sense of self, connecting, and mattering. Parents added a sixth element, a safe and supportive environment. These themes were derived from photo-elicitation interviews.
• OTOther2025Changes in lifespace and participation in community-based occupations of people with acquired brain injury: A mixed methods exploration 6 months following occupational therapy driving assessment.Australian occupational therapy journalAfter the driving assessment for acquired brain injury, people who returned to driving travelled farther and joined more community occupations. Those who did not return to driving left home less, mainly for errands and health care, and felt stuck.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Early symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and association with Brazilian children's development and behavior.CoDASIn 221 Brazilian toddlers, 33% screened positive for autism risk. These children showed lower communication and social scores and higher behavioral problems. Screening should trigger holistic developmental assessment, not just an autism referral.
• OTSurvey2025Work-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being of Social Care Workers in the Disability Sector in Ireland.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDDisability sector social care workers in Ireland reported very low quality of work life and well-being. High organisational constraints and workload predicted these poor scores. Most workers considered resigning or intended to quit, signalling a severe retention risk rather than a clinical outcome.
• PTOTRCT2025Virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation for postoperative C5 palsy: a pilot exploratory randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding VR to standard care did not improve primary muscle strength measures in this small pilot. The VR group showed some better pain and quality-of-life scores, but they also received an extra hour of therapy daily, so the VR itself may not be the cause.
• OTCohort2025Comparative Analysis of Autistic Women Across the Lifespan: Childhood vs. Adulthood Diagnosis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic women and non-binary people diagnosed in adulthood reported more psychological distress and fewer personal strengths than those diagnosed in childhood, despite higher education and employment rates. Nearly one-third endorsed suicidal ideation, with significantly higher rates among gender and sexual orientation diverse individuals.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Transitions of 24-H Movement Behaviour Profiles From Schooldays to Weekends and Their Associations With Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being in Czech Adolescents.Child: care, health and developmentAdolescents who kept an active, low-sitting, good-sleep routine from school days to weekends reported higher quality of life. Those who shifted to poorer habits had significantly lower scores. Weekend drop-offs in activity were common, but not linked to worse outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2025Social factors related to participation among people with Parkinson's disease.Disability and rehabilitationFor people with Parkinson's, support from family and friends predicted higher participation in demanding leisure activities like sports. Neighborhood and community support predicted better social and overall participation. These links held even after accounting for motor, cognitive, and mood impairments.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025The role of place types on social relationships and satisfaction as influenced by COVID and disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with disabilities rated outdoor recreation and healthcare as less important for social relationships during the pandemic. Online activities became the most important place type overall. This reflects access barriers and risk avoidance, not a change in social need.