Abstract
A 4-week sensory regulation program, EMPOWER, for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) was trialed to improve occupational participation. Results show feasibility, significant improvement in social participation, and a need for mental health OT.
Primary Author and Speaker: Gurpreet Singh
Contributing Authors: Razan Hamed
Serious mental illness (SMI) affects 1 in 25 adults in the United States, leading to significant challenges with occupational participation and sensory regulation (SR). Research suggests a lack of SR intervention programs focused on occupational participation in adults with SMI. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a 4-week SR intervention program, Exercise and Mindfulness Program for Occupational Wellness, Engagement, and Recovery (EMPOWER), for adults with SMI in a long-term acute inpatient psychiatric setting and evaluated changes in occupational and social participation. This study was conducted in two independent phases. Phase 1: qualitative focus group with four occupational therapists (OTs) to explore the need for SR interventions for adults with SMI. Phase 2: single-subject (AB) design to trial EMPOWER with four participants recruited from a long-term acute inpatient psychiatric facility. The Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM-2), Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA), a Researcher-Designed Questionnaire (RDQ) were administered to evaluate sensory processing, and changes in self-perception occupational participation and social participation. Phase 1 identified four tentative themes: (1) OT has the primary role in providing SR treatment (2) research and policy change to promote OT in mental health settings (3) limited knowledge of protocoled SR intervention programs for adults and (4) need for occupation-focused and contextualized sensory-based interventions. All established benchmarks for feasibility were met in Phase 2. Phase 2 revealed all participants had sensory processing challenges in at least one domain, statistically significant improvement in social participation, and stable occupational participation over the span of EMPOWER. EMPOWER demonstrated program feasibility and improvements in social participation. Findings emphasize the benefits of SR interventions in OT practice to enhance occupational participation and community reintegration.
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