Using purpose to engage the patient with depression

At the very heart of occupational therapy practice is the active engagement of the patient with purposeful activities. The lack of energy displayed by some psychiatric patients is often viewed by occupational therapists as a barrier to the very treatment process they are trying to implement. When patients fail to participate in treatment, therapists are often frustrated and confused about what steps to take next. This paper will examine the process of involving the low-energy psychiatric patients in activity across four dimensions: imparting purpose, the role of choice, meeting expectations and interaction with peers. Treatment implications are outlined and discussed in respect to three case studies.