Actions of occupational therapy in mental health for patients hospitalized in general hospitals: impact on occupational functioning

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational Therapy (OT) in mental health favors the care for the patient in situations of adversity due to hospitalization. Objective: To evaluate the impact of the OT approach on the occupational functioning, specifically on the dimensions of personal causation, values, interests, roles, habits, skills, and environment of inpatients at general hospitals under a consultation-liaison psychiatry service. Method: This is a longitudinal study that evaluated the occupational functioning of patients who presented difficulties with the hospitalization, before and after the OT intervention and the impact on the occupational functioning. We studied patients who went to at least five OT sessions. Data were obtained from records of the service and from the Self-Assessment of Occupational Functioning (SAOF) scale. Results: Means of all the occupational functioning dimensions were higher than baseline means (p<0.05) after the intervention. Conclusion: The OT approach in consultation-liaison psychiatry allows the dimensions that compose the performance systems of the general hospital inpatient to be improved.