[Perception and mindfulness-based occupational therapy in people with mental disorders-A retrospective observational...

During occupational therapeutic treatment of clients with mental disorders, perception and mindfulness-based techniques are used. However, little is known regarding relevant outcomes. Aim of the present study is to describe the results of a perception and mindfulness-based occupational therapeutic intervention (self-control techniques using perception-based methods (SELWA®) by S. Thielen) regarding the outcomes occupational performance and satisfaction in self-care, productivity and leisure, as well as concentration. The data of 28 clients (22 ♀, 6 ♂; mean age = 42.8 (±SD 14.7) years) with mental disorders, that were collected before and after prescribed occupational therapeutic treatment, were analyzed. The outcomes were quantified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the revision test, respectively. Significance of changes after the intervention was tested using the Wilcoxon-Signed Rank Test (p < 0.05). Effect sizes Cohen's d_z and r were determined to evaluate the meaningfulness of changes. The occupational performance as well as the satisfaction in the COPM improved significantly after the therapeutic intervention (p < 0.001; d_z = 2.37, r = 0.77 and d_z = 2.24, r = 0.75). Moreover, the clients improved significantly in the revision test after the therapeutic intervention (p < 0.001; d_z = 0.65, r = 0.31). Clients with mental disorders seem to benefit meaningfully from the SELWA®-treatment by S. Thielen regarding occupational performance and satisfaction in self-care, productivity and leisure. Furthermore, a moderate improvement of concentration seems to occur after the therapeutic intervention.