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Princípios Do Modelo de Recuperação Como Parte Da Terapia Ocupacional em Ambientes Psiquiátricos Com Internação
Princípios Do Modelo de Recuperação Como Parte Da Terapia Ocupacional em Ambientes Psiquiátricos Com Internação
To cite this article: Caitlin E. Synovec (2015) Implementing Recovery Model Principles as Part of
Occupational Therapy in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings, Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 31:1,
50-61, DOI: 10.1080/0164212X.2014.1001014
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Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 31:50–61, 2015
Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0164-212X print=1541-3101 online
DOI: 10.1080/0164212X.2014.1001014
CAITLIN E. SYNOVEC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore,
Maryland
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INTRODUCTION
Occupational therapy has long had an integral role in the mental health
recovery process. Since its origin, mental health occupational therapy has
focused on holistic and person-centered practice. The American Occu-
pational Therapy Association Practice Framework states the role of
occupational therapy to ‘‘understand the client as an occupational human
50
Recovery Model Principles in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings 51
PURPOSE
Empowerment
Empowerment, now characterized by ‘‘hope’’ and ‘‘respect’’ in the working
definition of recovery, increases an individual’s ability to take control and
make necessary steps in regards to their recovery process (SAMHSA, 2006,
2012). Insight into a person’s illness builds their internal locus of control
and a feeling of empowerment, and has increased good recovery outcomes
(Warner, 2010). Occupational therapy sessions that focus on assisting clients
to identify their personal and contextual strengths and ways to problem solve
perceived barriers can increase self-esteem, self-efficacy, and spiritual
well-being, along with skill-based treatment to increase perceived control,
confidence in performance, and occupational engagement in the community
(Fukui, Davidson, Holter, & Rapp, 2010; Lim, Morris, & Cralk, 2007).
Additionally, reducing negative thoughts about self to decrease internalized
stigma and to increase meaningfulness have been found to improve symp-
tom management among clients (Eklund, 2007; Warner, 2010). Implementing
these strategies can assist clients in identifying what they value within them-
selves, in order to increase motivation to pursue and resume daily life roles
after discharge (Synovec, 2014).
Occupational Engagement
Occupational engagement is defined as ‘‘the extent to which a person has a
balanced rhythm of activity and rest, a variety and range of meaningful occu-
pations and routines, and the ability to move around in society and interact
socially’’ (Bejerholm & Eklund, 2007, p. 21). Mental health consumers have
reported a lack of confidence in their ability to initiate meaningful activities
and would like assistance to help structure their time, despite evidence
showing involvement in meaningful daily life activities can lead to a
reduction in symptoms and increased quality of life (Bejerholm & Eklund,
Recovery Model Principles in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings 53
2007; Kannenberg, Amini, & Hartmann, 2010; Lim et al., 2007). Occupational
therapy is integral to increasing consumers’ daily balance and engagement
through identification of clients’ strengths and desired occupations, and
providing a supportive environment in which to engage in these occupations
(Bejerholm & Eklund, 2007). Often, acute mental health symptoms affect a
client’s ability to participate in daily life roles; thus, allowing for occupational
engagement on inpatient units increases the ability to resume roles once dis-
charged (Synovec, 2014).
with clients. The concept that recovery is ‘‘holistic’’ emphasizes the role of
self-management in the community and ability to engage in preferred clinical
and health practices (SAMHSA, 2006, 2012). Gibson, D’Amico, Jaffe, and
Arbesman (2011) found that skill-specific treatment resulted in faster and
more successful community reintegration, as well as being beneficial for
keeping appointments and taking medications once discharged. Addition-
ally, skill-based training can increase clients’ ability to manage their health
promoting autonomy within the community, increasing self-efficacy and
empowerment, promoting resumption of independent life roles, and reduc-
ing the impact of triggers and symptoms, as clients experience more control
regarding their health (Synovec, 2014).
Communication Skills
Clients on an inpatient unit stated that they would have liked help with
social=communication skills to improve their transition into the community.
Social skills training is effective in decreasing symptoms in the inpatient
setting as well as promoting a more successful reentry into the community
(Gibson et al., 2011; Nolan et al., 2011). Social skills training has been shown
54 C. E. Synovec
to improve socialization in the community and can be a distinct role for occu-
pational therapists within acute care settings (Gibson et al., 2011; Synovec,
2014). Addressing communication skills promotes recovery model principles
and allows clients to increase their independence, self-efficacy, and ability to
self-advocate across all health settings, as well as increase engagement and
socialization once discharged (Synovec, 2014).
long-term goals can empower consumers to identify the paths they would
like their lives to take (Eklund, 2007). The more meaning, hope, and sense
of direction that consumers have, the more likely they are to solve problems
and be more actively involved in managing their own recovery
(Buckley-Walker, Crowe, & Caputi, 2010). Occupational therapy can assist
clients in identifying individualized long-term goals and personal strengths
that will support their ability to reach these goals (Fukui et al., 2010). Identi-
fication of short-term steps can additionally provide a tangible process for
reaching long-term objectives, reduce perceived barriers, and promote inde-
pendence in the recovery process (Synovec, 2014). These goals can also be
integrated into ongoing occupational therapy sessions while the client is
admitted, to further integrate client-centered care.
PROCEDURES
primarily focused on: unit orientation, daily goal setting, AA=NA based sub-
stance abuse meetings, and medication and illness education. Occupational
therapy sessions included all previously described concepts through both
individual and group sessions. Number of sessions attended were variable
by client, due to acuity of symptoms, length of stay, and availability of client
on the unit. Group sessions were 60 minutes in duration and offered daily,
while individual sessions ranged from 15 to 60 minutes and implemented
variably due to aforementioned factors. All sessions were completed on
the unit. Topic selection for both groups and individual sessions were based
on clients’ goals.
The outcomes measure consisted of a survey reflecting on the clients’
experience with occupational therapy and recovery topics. Surveys were dis-
seminated to the clients by the primary OTR and collected without identify-
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ing information except for final diagnosis (as identified by the unit’s
psychiatrist). The survey consisted of the following four questions:
Clients were asked to select from a list of recovery topics for questions
1– through 3, checking as many or as few as they thought appropriate (e.g.,
identifying positive coping strategies). Question 4 was rated on a 1 to 10
Likert scale. Clients were also allowed space to further explain their answers
and experiences for all questions. Terminology used in surveys was reflective
of the language used in sessions to ensure client understanding.
Consumers who completed an initial assessment and at least two
follow-up sessions (individual and=or group) as part of their admission to
an inpatient psychiatric unit were given a survey at day of discharge. Clients
who participated only in specialized assessments (AMPS, kitchen safety assess-
ments, ACLS-5) or participated in fewer than two sessions were excluded. A
total of 52 consumers met criteria and were available to complete the survey
prior to discharge over a six-month period. Length of stay on the unit ranged
from three days to one month, and ages ranged from 18 to 73 years old. Pri-
mary diagnoses of consumers were affective disorders, with 50% of clients also
experiencing a dual diagnosis (see Figures 1 and 2 for diagnosis distribution).
RESULTS
FIGURE 4 Which aspects of the discharge plan will be easiest=hardest to follow through on?
58 C. E. Synovec
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DISCUSSION
supporting the client to work towards personal goals is beneficial. This, how-
ever, also indicates the need for a greater emphasis on building empower-
ment and identifying supports and strategies to achieve long-term goals.
Implementing communication skills and using supports were also closely
ranked in ease=difficulty to follow after discharge, emphasizing the impor-
tance of increasing consumers’ abilities to effectively communicate and form
strategies for using these skills with peer, community, and family supports.
Overall, sessions focusing on developing clients’ underlying self-efficacy
and empowerment (e.g., coping strategies) were identified as the most ben-
eficial, supporting use of recovery model principles in the inpatient setting.
The responses that support these topics as part of occupational therapy also
indicate the need for further development of skills within the community, as
many inpatient admissions are short in duration. Continued skill building may
increase self-efficacy and the ability to apply strategies in daily life, as well as
positive transitions to community roles; highlighting the need for occu-
pational therapy in both acute and community settings.
LIMITATIONS
Because of limits in this inpatient unit, there was no follow up to assess suc-
cesses and barriers experienced by clients in the community, or to identify cli-
ents who may have been readmitted. Although treatments were client centered
and individualized, they were not standardized, and they varied in time sec-
ondary to length of stay, acuteness of condition, and overall availability. Also,
secondary to criteria for inclusion, diagnoses treated on this inpatient unit are
not evenly reflected in survey responses. There was a limited sample size.
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