Interoception and its application to paediatric occupational therapy: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Paediatric occupational therapists address sensory processing challenges impacting children's daily functioning.
• Interoception, the sense of internal body states, is an emerging area in paediatric practice.
• The application and rationale behind using interoception in paediatric occupational therapy remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of published literature on interoception in paediatric occupational therapy.
• To identify how and why paediatric clinicians apply interoception and related concepts.
• To synthesize current knowledge on interoception's role in paediatric occupational therapy.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review was performed.
• Searches included 10 electronic databases and grey literature.
• PRISMA-ScR Checklist and Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool guided the review; data were analyzed using narrative synthesis.

Main Results:

• Eighteen articles were included, encompassing research, books, theses, and opinion pieces.
• Six themes emerged: principles, definition, assessment, application, populations, and related components.
• Therapists integrate interoception into assessments and interventions, but evidence supporting specific methods is limited, with few occupation-based programs available.

Conclusions:

• This review contributes empirical evidence to the growing field of interoception in paediatric occupational therapy.
• Findings offer a foundation for current practice and future research.
• Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base for interoception-based interventions in children.