Occupational therapy and posttraumatic stress disorder: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Psychiatry
• Mental health research

Background:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly disrupts individuals' daily functioning and engagement in occupations.
• Occupational therapy provides interventions to help clients with PTSD re-engage in meaningful life activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review identifying and describing how occupational therapy addresses posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in clinical practice.
• To synthesize current occupational therapy approaches for managing PTSD.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of scholarly databases was performed for literature on occupational therapy and PTSD.
• Two independent reviewers applied selection criteria and extracted data.
• Information was synthesized using a narrative format.

Main Results:

• Fifty sources met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Three primary themes emerged: recognizing trauma in specific populations, the impact of PTSD on various occupations, and the occupational therapy response to PTSD.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapists collaborate within multidisciplinary teams to mitigate PTSD's effects on clients' daily occupations.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions for individuals with PTSD.