The Impact of a Pre-Vocational Program on Cognition,Symptoms, and Work Re-Integration in Schizophrenia

This study measured the effects of a pre-vocational program on cognition, symptoms, and integration to work in schizophrenia. Twelve participants, receiving pharmacological treatment only, were compared to 14 participants, who were part of a pre-vocational program and who received pharmacological treatment on pre and post measures. The work skills training group was offered by an occupational therapist. Results showed statistically significant differences in negative and general symptoms, visual attention, learning, and integration to work when comparing the two groups in favor of the program. These results provide evidence of the positive effects of occupational therapy interventions in mental health.     

New and Expanded Concepts in Neurophysiology,Psychology, and Sociology Complementary to Llorens' Developmental Theory: Achieving Growth and Development through Occupation for Neonatal Infants and their Families

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This issue expands the Llorens’ Developmental Theory of Occupational Therapy. Llorens drew from multiple theorists from the disciplines of sociology, neurophysiology, biology, ecology, psychology, occupational science, and psychodynamics to provide the profession of occupational therapy with a unified theory to facilitate growth and development for people of all ages—from infancy to old age.

Purpose: The purpose of this issue is to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the continued relevance of Llorens' theory. In addition, the author evaluates, recommends, and applies updated theoretical premises in the realms of psychodynamics, neurophysiology, contextual ecology, and cognitive science that reflect the relevance of occupational therapy practice for infants and their families in the neonatal intensive care unit.

New Psychological Elements: Through the appropriate use of purposeful occupational activity and affective object relationships, the expanded Developmental Theory of Occupational Therapy provides a unified theory of occupation enablement as intrinsic spatiotemporal adaptation and as extrinsic socio ? cultural and physically contextual occupational adaptation to achieve growth and development across the lifespan.     

Personalized Occupational Transformations: Narratives from Two Occupational Therapists’ Experiences with Complex Therapeutic Processes

Recovery and occupation-centered practices with persons with severe psychiatric disabilities involve many dynamic issues and processes. This study aimed to develop an understanding of how the therapeutic process unfolds in occupational therapy among persons with severe psychiatric disabilities living in sheltered or supported housing. Repeated interviews were conducted with two occupational therapists working in sheltered and supported housing facilities. Narrative analysis was used to analyze their stories. The findings reveal “personalized occupational transformations” describing significant events of interaction establishing therapeutic processes to promote personal agency and social recovery while targeting meaningful activities based on each resident’s wishes.     

Older adults’ experiences of internet-based vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness: A longitudinal study

Objective: Factors influencing engagement with self-managed rehabilitation are not well understood, but evidence suggests they may change over time. Despite increasing digitalisation of self-managed interventions, little is known about the role of internet-based interventions in patients’ experiences of self-directed rehabilitation. This longitudinal qualitative study investigated individuals’ ongoing experiences of internet-guided, self-managed rehabilitation within the context of rehabilitation for dizziness.

Methods: Eighteen adults aged fifty and over who experienced dizziness used the ‘Balance Retraining’ internet intervention for six weeks. Participants took part in semi-structured telephone interviews at two-week intervals to explore their experiences. Data were inductively thematically analysed.

Results: The internet intervention was reported to facilitate engagement with rehabilitation exercises, providing motivation to continue through symptom reduction and simple but helpful strategies. It was perceived as informative, reassuring, visually pleasing and easy to use. Barriers to engagement included practicalities, symptoms and doubts about exercise efficacy. Participants’ perceptions did not always remain consistent over time.

Conclusion: The internet intervention may be a feasible method of supporting self-managed vestibular rehabilitation. More generally, longitudinal findings suggest that appearance-related perceptions of online interventions may be especially important for initial engagement. Furthermore, intervention features targeting self-efficacy seem important in overcoming barriers to engagement.     

The Public Vocation of Lutheran Churches and the Rehabilitation of Zimbabwean Female Ex‐Prisoners

Abstract : This paper investigates the public role of the Lutheran churches in general. It also explores the role played by the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe in its quest to rehabilitate female ex‐prisoners. The outcome of the study reveals that the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe has been conspicuous in its absence regarding the rehabilitation of female ex‐prisoners. This negates the legacy of Martin Luther on the Church's public role; hence I recommend that the Zimbabwean Lutheran Church must take its rightful place in public discourse.     

Social cure and social curse: Social identity resources and adjustment to acquired brain injury

There is increasing evidence that identification with social groups can protect and enhance health, establishing a kind of ‘social cure’. However, for those affected by chronic or disabling conditions such as acquired brain injury (ABI), their identity may also represent a burden, a form of ‘social curse’. The present study explored the identity benefits and burdens available to 15 participants living with ABI using semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data was then analysed systematically using thematic analysis. The findings highlight social identity changes as central to the experience of brain injury. Participants reported changes in their social networks and social group memberships after injury. Identity loss and reduced social support were described as disabling. Engagement in meaningful group activity with others affected by ABI and access to affected peers enabled new group-based resources such as social support. In this way, group activity can be seen as a form of identity enactment that can drive social cure effects. Similarly, adaptation to life after injury was demonstrably linked to social identity processes pointing to the importance of a social cure approach to rehabilitation.     

Evaluating the Benefits and Challenges of Owning a Pet Dog at a Residential Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facility From the Perspective of Staff and Clients

This qualitative study evaluated benefits and challenges of the occupation of owning a communal pet dog living permanently at an adult psychiatric rehabilitation facility. Twenty-three participants (12 staff, 11 clients) completed surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Data were analyzed through multiple coding, member checking, and triangulation. Three major themes emerged: (a) positive emotional experiences, (b) challenges of dog ownership, and (c) supporting engagement in meaningful occupation. While experiences of participant’s were broadly positive, challenges with adopting a dog in its puppy stage of development were acknowledged. A novel finding recognizing positive impacts on the well-being of staff was found.     

Neurodevelopmental model of long-term outcomes of adult survivors of childhood brain tumors

Childhood brain tumors and related treatments disrupt the developing brain and have a cascading impact on core cognitive skills and intellectual (intelligence quotient [IQ]) and academic achievement outcomes. Theoretical models for this cascade have been developed based on the literature, but no studies thus far have empirically evaluated the models. The current study aimed to empirically test the two extant models and generate a new data-driven model of the relationships among neurodevelopmental risk factors, core cognitive skills (i.e., processing speed, attention span, working memory), and IQ and achievement outcomes. Fifty-seven adult survivors of childhood brain tumors and fifty-seven demographically matched neurotypical individuals were included in the current study. The average age at brain tumor diagnosis was 8 years, and the average time since diagnosis was 17 years. Three a priori path models tested the hypothesized relationships among variables. Results of the path analyses revealed that the hybrid model best fit the data for both survivors and controls based on all statistical criteria. For survivors, processing speed was the core cognitive skill most widely associated with neurodevelopmental risk factors and outcomes. However, working memory and attention span also had unique contributions to IQ and academic achievement. Processing speed appears to be the central cognitive skill that disrupts the other core cognitive skills of attention span and working memory, and all three make a unique contribution to IQ and academic achievement. This is best demonstrated by a novel neurodevelopmental model that combines components of two earlier untested theoretical models.     

戒毒人员戒毒动机对复吸倾向的影响:有调节的中介作用

目的:考察强制戒毒人员的戒毒动机对于复吸倾向的影响机制。方法:使用强制戒毒者复吸倾向性心理调查表、戒毒动机量表、心理韧性量表和情绪调节自我效能感量表对710名强制戒毒人员进行调查。结果:(1)强制戒毒人员戒毒动机负向预测复吸倾向;(2)情绪调节自我效能感中介了戒毒动机和复吸倾向的关系;(3)心理韧性调节了情绪调节自我效能感的中介效应。结论:戒毒动机不仅直接影响强制隔离戒毒人员的复吸倾向,也通过情绪调节自我效能感间接影响强制隔离戒毒人员复吸倾向,心理韧性增强了情绪调节自我效能感对复吸倾向的影响。     

Preliminary investigation of two functional assessment methods for people with dementia: Effectiveness and acceptability

Many functional assessment procedures have been developed and validated for use with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the utility and social acceptability of functional assessment methods for people with dementia. We conducted direct observations in the natural environment to produce data for conditional probability analyses and an experimental functional analysis of the behavior of two women with dementia. We found that the conditional probability analysis yielded similar conclusions about function as the data from the experimental functional analysis for both participants. Importantly, staff rated the direct observations as more socially acceptable. We also report barriers to conducting both methods in older adult settings that warrant further exploration, including the use of the assessments with people with dementia and intact vocal verbal repertoires.