Occupational Therapy Interventions in Mental Health During Lockdown: A Scoping Review

Lockdown derived from the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to mental health care, prompting the adaptation of therapeutic practices. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics and objectives of occupational therapy (OT) interventions conducted in the field of mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search was carried out in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, OTSeeker, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. We included randomized or non-randomized intervention studies, published in English or Spanish, that explored OT interventions in mental health during the COVID-19 period and/or lockdown. Data were extracted using pre-designed tables in accordance with the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook. We included seven articles. OT interventions were conducted via video call (n = 4) and in person (n = 3). These were carried out with adults, adolescents, and children, lasting from 1 to 32 weeks, with the number of sessions ranging from 7 to 22 and lasting 20 to 90 min. The most frequently addressed outcomes were quality of life (n = 4), anxiety or depression (n = 4), and sleep (n = 4). During lockdown, OT interventions were mainly applied via telerehabilitation with the aim of increasing activity participation and addressing emotional issues. These results could help occupational therapists to implement mental health interventions when in-person application is compromised.