Citation

Lipskaya-Velikovsky L, Krupa T, Silvan-Kosovich I, Kotler M. J. Psychiatr. Res. 2020; 125: 45-51.

Affiliation

Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, P.O.B. 39040, Tel Aviv, 6139001, Israel. Electronic address: moshe.kotler@beerness.health.gov.il.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.03.004

PMID

32203739

Abstract

PURPOSE: Participation in meaningful occupation is associated with recovery in serious mental illnesses, however, few evidence-based, occupation-focused interventions for hospital settings exist. This study investigated the effectiveness of "Occupational Connections" (OC), a manualized, short-term, group intervention, addressing issues in daily-life occupations' participation and functioning of people with serious mental illness as early as during hospitalization.

METHODS: Thirty-three inpatients with schizophrenia completed single-blind, pre-post study procedures (up to 10 weeks) in two groups: OC group intervention and open leisure activity group (control condition), in addition to treatment as usual. They were assessed for occupation and participation dimensions, perceptions of services as recovery-oriented, comprehensive cognitive functioning and schizophrenia symptoms. The sampling was convenience with sequential group allocation.

RESULTS: Improvements were found in the study group in the following measurements: intention to participate in daily activities (t(15) = -2.62, p < .05), participation diversity (t(15) = -2.11, p < .05), experience the recovery orientation of the service (t(15) = -3.15, p < .01), functional capacity (t(15) = -3.44, p < .01), cognitive abilities of language understanding, memory and shifting (-4.5
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides initial evidence for the effectiveness of OC. The results suggest that interventions with a focus on personal, meaningful daily life occupations such as the OC, may be a useful tool contributing to a positive experience of the in-patient staying and successful community reintegration after acute psychiatric hospitalization.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

In-patient settings; Intervention effectiveness; Mental illness; Participation; Recovery