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 33 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTQualitative2025Exploring first-year occupational therapy students' perspectives of an On-Country experience: A study from an Australian undergraduate program.Australian occupational therapy journalFirst-year occupational therapy students described an On-Country experience as a way to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and health. Some still spoke of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as past or separate, and students were unsure how to apply it.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Male and Female Healthcare Trajectories in Autism: Are There Any Differences Considering Age at Diagnosis and Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities Status?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic females were diagnosed later than males, averaging 22.2 versus 13.9 years. Adults relied heavily on hospital and emergency care, while children used outpatient clinics. Sex differences in healthcare use varied significantly depending on age at diagnosis and intellectual disability status.
• OTOther2025Key principles to support occupational engagement in mental health inpatient units.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTTen practice principles for leisure in mental health inpatient units were developed from prior research and reviewed by clinicians. They focus on environmental design, risk-taking, and shared responsibility. The paper presents these as expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• OTQualitative2024Exploring the impact of early-stage dementia on everyday activities.The British journal of occupational therapyPeople with early-stage dementia struggle most with complex, unfamiliar tasks like managing medication or new technology, not just routine self-care. They also face social withdrawal and post-diagnosis mental health impacts, requiring tailored support beyond basic domestic safety checks.
• OTSystematic Review2025Factors affecting retention of occupational therapists in adult mental health service: A systematic review with narrative synthesis.The British journal of occupational therapyMental health occupational therapists are more likely to stay when they receive strong team support, supervision, and recognition. Retention drops when professional identity erodes due to generic roles, high workload, and poor management. Staffing models that dilute OT-specific skills correlate with higher turnover.
• OTQualitative2025An exploration of women's occupational participation and identity during menopause: Descriptive qualitative study.The British journal of occupational therapyFive perimenopausal women described how not recognising their symptoms as menopause caused distress and job loss. They reported losing their 'mojo' for hobbies and work, straining family roles. Two women adapted by changing careers. This describes lived experience, not treatment efficacy.
• OTQualitative2025Occupational therapist's involvement in social prescribing: A qualitative interview study.The British journal of occupational therapyOccupational therapists struggled to define their role distinct from social prescribing, often viewing it as an overlap or a step-down service. They reported emotional responses to this identity challenge, while managing workflow through delegation and joint visits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Profiles of Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Their Associated Predictors.Child: care, health and developmentDeaf and hard of hearing children show higher rates of developmental delay than the general population, with 35% scoring below cut-off in communication. Prematurity, low birthweight, and medical comorbidities predict delays across all domains, regardless of hearing loss severity.
• PTOTCohort2025Engagement With Recommended Developmental Follow-up and Supports Among Infants With Intrauterine Opioid Exposure.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAmong infants with prenatal opioid exposure, 93% were referred to early intervention, but only 73% were evaluated and 58% enrolled. Only 34% attended a developmental follow-up visit. Infants staying with parents attended follow-up less often.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Obstetric Care and Pregnancy Health in Autistic Individuals and Those with Other Developmental Disabilities in an Integrated Healthcare Setting in California.Autism in adulthoodAutistic and developmentally disabled patients in an integrated system had higher rates of therapeutic abortion, severe vomiting, preterm birth, and perinatal depression than general population peers. They also used emergency departments more often and had lower odds of live birth.
• OTSystematic Review2025Digital Psychological Wellbeing Interventions for Family Carers of Children and Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDDigital wellbeing support for carers of people with intellectual disabilities is generally acceptable and often improves stress or mood, but the evidence is weak. No single online programme is proven effective enough to recommend for routine clinical practice.
• OTQualitative2025Understanding occupational therapy perinatal mental health practice in mothers from ethnic minorities: A qualitative study of practitioner perceived barriers and enablers.The British journal of occupational therapyEight UK occupational therapists working in perinatal mental health described struggling to reach ethnic minority mothers due to stigma, language barriers and a lack of culturally appropriate assessments. They felt their own cultural knowledge was insufficient and that mandatory training did not help.
• OTSLPSurvey2025The Relationship Between Personal Wellbeing, Choice and NDIS Individualised Planning and Support for People With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeople with intellectual disability reported high everyday choice but little control over key life decisions like budgeting, staff, or leaving a program. Wellbeing was linked to health, not to NDIS funding. Group home residents had less choice than those living independently.
• OTQualitative2025A qualitative study exploring occupational therapist's experiences of delivering interventions to patients in seclusion whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.The British journal of occupational therapySix UK occupational therapists working in mental health seclusion described battling a team view that seclusion is punishment. They argued for continuing therapy to reduce isolation and shorten stays, using graded activities like yoga or baking through the hatch to manage safety risks.
• OTOther2025Quality of Life and Mental Health in Caregivers of Children With Down Syndrome and Sleep Problems.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDCaregivers of children with Down syndrome and sleep problems reported significantly lower quality of life across all domains and higher stress than the general population. Depression and anxiety scores did not differ from norms. These findings suggest a need for psychosocial support but do not prove sleep problems caused these outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025A scoping review and thematic analysis on coping strategies used by people with aphasia.AphasiologyPeople with aphasia most commonly rely on cognitive strategies like acceptance and self-efficacy, but these work alongside social support and community access. Therapists should assess and target these internal attitudes and external resources together rather than focusing on language impairment alone.
• PTOTOther2025Cross-sectional differences of physical and psychosocial measures in low back pain according to pain chronification risk groups.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with low back pain at high risk of chronification had significantly worse physical strength and higher pain than those at low risk. High-risk patients were also more likely to refuse or be excluded from strength testing, suggesting physical deconditioning and fear are linked.
• OTOther2025An exploratory study on the relationship between personal recovery and social functioning in outpatients with schizophrenia.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn 98 outpatients with schizophrenia, better interpersonal functioning correlated with greater reliance on others and willingness to ask for help. Other social functioning areas, like daily activities and work, showed no such link to personal recovery.
• OTProtocol2024Using intervention mapping to develop an occupational therapy informed intervention for adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties.The British journal of occupational therapyThis paper outlines how a new occupational therapy intervention for adolescent mental health was designed using Intervention Mapping and MOHO theory. It describes the programme structure but reports no patient outcomes because the intervention has not yet been tested.
• OTOther2025The Adaptation and Translation of a Transition Readiness Scale for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe adapted Transition Readiness Scale reliably measures autonomy and social skills in autistic young adults, including Spanish speakers. Higher readiness scores linked to less depression and better quality of life, offering a culturally responsive tool for planning adult services.
• OTSystematic Review2025Trauma-informed or sensory-based practices in preschool settings: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalOnly 18 studies exist on trauma-informed or sensory-based practices in preschools. Most involved educators rather than therapists, and few measured child outcomes. This maps a gap in evidence for occupational therapy interventions rather than confirming what works.
• OTCohort2025Access to Outpatient Occupational Therapy Services After Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization in the Veterans Health Administration.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationOnly 13% of Veterans received outpatient occupational therapy after psychiatric discharge. Having daily living limitations did not predict access. Instead, Black and Hispanic Veterans, and those at lower-quality facilities, were less likely to receive services, suggesting access is driven by nonclinical factors.
• PTOTOther2025Discriminant Validity of the Electronic Activity Card Sort (ACS3) Among Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationBoth groups reported significant declines in life participation compared to pre-injury or pre-illness baselines. Adults with multiple sclerosis retained fewer activities overall and in instrumental daily living and leisure domains than those with traumatic brain injury. Social participation scores did not differ between the groups.
• OTSystematic Review2025The role of occupational therapists in acute mental health inpatient settings: A systematic scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalOccupational therapy interventions in acute mental health inpatient units are associated with improved engagement, reduced distress, and less reliance on restrictive practices like seclusion. Evidence is limited to small, non-randomised studies, so these findings describe potential roles rather than proven effects.
• OTSLPCase Series2025Exploring Self-Reported Quality of Life in Developmental Language Disorder.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsFive young people with DLD reported good general life satisfaction but specific barriers in school and health services. Those with higher nonverbal ability or better language skills sometimes reported poorer well-being, possibly due to masking challenges in unsupportive environments.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Effectiveness of Sound-Based Interventions for Improving Functional Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.Occupational therapy internationalSound-based music therapies, including Safe and Sound Protocol, were reported to improve children's language, listening, behaviour and emotional regulation, but the evidence was small, mixed and too limited to prove benefit.
• OTQualitative2025'You Understand Me': Experiences of Peer Mentors Delivering Support for a Mindfulness Intervention to Family Carers of People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeer mentors who were family carers described flexible paid mentoring as meaningful, confidence-building and a route back to work. Shared caring experience helped them connect with family carers, but manual limits sometimes felt too narrow.
• OTOther2025Career planning and development for occupational therapists working in mental health: A scoping review.The British journal of occupational therapyJob satisfaction among mental health occupational therapists was linked with meaningful, discipline-specific work and supervision. Career pathways and early career programmes were supports; workload, role blurring and resource shortages were barriers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Caregiver Concerns Questionnaire: A Tool to Target Care for Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of autistic children rated moderate or severe problems in 7 of 19 areas on average. Language and attention concerns dropped with age, while anxiety and social interaction concerns rose. Sleep and gut issues tracked with behavioral problems.
• OTSurvey2025Current Practice of Occupational Therapy for Common Disorders Seen in Rehabilitation Clinics in Saudi Arabia.Occupational therapy internationalNeurological conditions were the most commonly reported conditions among Saudi occupational therapists surveyed, including stroke, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury; therapeutic exercise was the most commonly reported intervention, and mental health was not reported.
• OTSLPOther2025Elevated Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Autistic Youth and Adults: A Multinational Study.Autism in adulthoodIn this suicide-enriched sample of autistic people, many reported lifetime suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or attempts, and ideation increased through adolescence and early adulthood. The youngest reported attempt was at age 7.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: A cross-sectional comparison.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdolescent girls with scoliosis reported quality of life scores similar to healthy peers. The primary comparison found no significant difference in physical, psychological, or social well-being between the two groups.
• OTQualitative2025Asian American Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Perspectives on Supporting the Mental Health of Asian American Caregivers for Older Adults.Occupational therapy internationalAsian American therapists reported that caregivers often hide mental health struggles due to cultural stigma and provider bias. They recommended using indirect questions about fatigue or worry, avoiding reliance on family members for translation, and actively identifying all involved caregivers rather than assuming family support is sufficient.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Mental Health as a Key Mediator for Outcomes in Postsecondary Education, Employment, and Everyday Living in Autistic Adults.Autism in adulthoodIn 140 autistic adults, higher anxiety and depression scores predicted better employment and education outcomes. This contradicts general population trends where better mental health predicts success. The authors suggest that maintaining this level of functioning requires intense masking, which exhausts the individual and worsens mental health.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2025What Is Known About Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in Individuals With Physical Disabilities? A Narrative Review.Child: care, health and developmentPeople with physical disabilities may restrict food or pursue weight loss to manage incontinence, ease mobility, or cope with stigma, rather than due to typical body image concerns. Clinicians must assess these disability-specific motivations before assuming standard eating disorder presentations.
• OTSurvey2025Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace and its Association with Possible Actions of Managers to Prevent Sickness Absence of Employees with Mental Health Problems in the Swedish Private Sector: a Video Vignette Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationManagers who reported more stigma about exhaustion, anxiety or depression said they had fewer possible actions to prevent sickness absence. This was true for their own attitudes and for stigma among managerial colleagues and the company.
• OTRCT2025Individual Placement and Support and Participatory Workplace Intervention on the Work Participation of People with Disabilities: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationNeither Individual Placement and Support nor the Participatory Workplace Intervention significantly shortened the time to sustainable employment for people with work disabilities. A secondary finding showed IPS clients started any work, trial placement, or education sooner.
• OTRCT2025Associations between Psychosocial Working Conditions and Work-Specific Self-Efficacy Beliefs Among Employees Receiving Psychotherapeutic Consultation at Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployees with mental health symptoms reported lower confidence in their work abilities when facing high quantitative job demands. Conversely, having more development opportunities was associated with higher confidence. These links were cross-sectional, so they show association rather than causation.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Caregiver and student perspectives on school services for students with traumatic brain injury during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFamilies described remote learning as often failing to deliver necessary accommodations, with teachers overlooking plans and students unable to engage with screens. However, some found flexibility and self-pacing reduced anxiety and helped them manage symptoms and appointments better.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Factors Related to the Recurrence of Sickness Absence Due to Common Mental Health Disorders: A Systematic Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployees with low socioeconomic status and those with previous short-term or mental-health-related sickness absences are at higher risk of recurrent absence. Therapists should extend support and monitor these groups long after they return to work.
• PTOTCohort2025Uncovering Mental Health Profiles of Workers with a Physically Disabling Injury or Illness Using the Complete State Mental Health Framework.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with languishing mental health 18 months after injury had longer and costlier disability claims than those flourishing. Those with high mental illness had longer claims but no significant cost difference. Financial stress and poor sleep were common in these groups.
• PTOTQualitative2025Clinician Experiences of and Responses to the Challenges of Working with Patients in the Australian Compensation Setting.Journal of occupational rehabilitationClinicians treating Australian compensation patients described vicarious distress and exhaustion from insurer delays, stigma and administrative burden, and described meaning and mastery when they had training, mentoring and peer support.
• OTCohort2025Double Trouble! Do Workplace Supports Mitigate Lost Productivity for Young Workers with Both Severe Rheumatic Diseases and Depressive Symptoms?Journal of occupational rehabilitationYoung workers with severe rheumatic symptoms and depressive symptoms reported more missed workdays and more working while unwell. Workplace supports were linked to fewer missed workdays, but not to less working while unwell in those with both.
• PTOTOther2025Musculoskeletal Health and Work: Development and Internal-External Cross-Validation of a Model to Predict Risk of Work Absence and Presenteeism in People Seeking Primary Healthcare.Journal of occupational rehabilitationModels using self-reported history, pain, and job type accurately predicted 6-month work absence and presenteeism in adults with musculoskeletal disorders. Prior absence was the strongest predictor of future absence, while comorbidities and long pain duration predicted poor work performance.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Disclosure Decisions of Workers Living with a Chronic Health Condition Causing Disability at Work: Are Decisions to Disclose to Co-workers and Supervisors Different?Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost Canadian workers with a disability disclosed their condition to colleagues. Factors predicting disclosure included age, pain, health variability, job disruptions, accommodation use, and workplace perceptions, rather than the specific type of disability.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025The Era of Technology in Healthcare-An Evaluation of Telerehabilitation on Client Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of occupational rehabilitationTelerehabilitation did not significantly improve physical functioning, mental health, or pain compared to face-to-face care in working-age adults. The evidence quality is very low, with high variability between studies, so no clear advantage for either delivery method was found.
• PTOTCohort2025Work-Related Fear-Avoidance Beliefs and Risk of Low-Back Pain: Prospective Cohort Study Among Healthcare Workers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationHealthcare workers with high fear-avoidance beliefs about work had higher odds of increased low-back pain intensity and duration after one year. Moderate beliefs also predicted worse outcomes. Screening for these beliefs may identify workers at risk of developing or worsening pain.
• OTRCT2026Mindfulness buffers the association of pain with depression and anxiety among people with spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study.Rehabilitation psychologyAmong adults with spinal cord injury and chronic pain, higher mindfulness was linked to less depression and anxiety when pain was intense. It did not buffer stress. Pain was unexpectedly tied to higher well-being in those with high mindfulness.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Resistance Exercise Training on Musculoskeletal, Metabolic and Psychological Health in Sedentary Office Workers - Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of occupational rehabilitationResistance training improved neck and shoulder strength and reduced discomfort in office workers, but showed no significant benefit for metabolic or mental health outcomes. The evidence quality is very low due to high bias and inconsistency, so these results are not yet reliable for clinical practice.
• PTOTQualitative2026Project ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine: A Qualitative Study of HealthCare Providers Supporting Workers with Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.Journal of occupational rehabilitationProviders said WSIB delays, unclear forms and hard-to-reach adjudicators erode worker trust and slow return to work. In ECHO sessions, they described new tools and communication strategies, while still wanting clearer guidelines and faster approvals.