[Occupational therapy in vocational rehabilitation of adults with mental illness].

OBJECTIVE

This publication presents a study that analyses the effectiveness of client-oriented Occupational Therapy methods in Austria concerning improvement of the occupational performance of persons with mental illness. The central research issue had been the question how far client-centred OT treatment enables improvement in the occupational performance of mentally ill persons.

METHODS

In order to answer the research question raised 150 persons in various vocational rehabilitation institutions were interviewed. The clients' recent performance and their satisfaction with their abilities were assessed in a pre-post design using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). The focus of the Occupational Therapy interventions carried out had been on client orientation, on training of social competence and on activities of daily living.

RESULTS

The intervention group's COPM scores, their COPM-satisfaction scores, as well as their SOFAS ratings of difference were significantly higher than those found for the control group.

CONCLUSION

It could be shown that applying client-centred Occupational Therapy methods in vocational reintegration work can contribute considerably to improving the performance, satisfaction, quality of life, and social skills of persons with mental illness.