Psychiatric Patients' Occupational Roles: Changes Over Time and Associations with Self-rated Quality of Life

Abstract

This study investigated psychiatric patients' occupational roles before and after a period of treatment in occupational therapy day-care and at a 1-year follow-up. Furthermore, associations between valued occupational roles and self-rated quality of life were investigated. Twenty patients with a mean age of 30 years and diagnosed with a psychosis diagnosis or other long-term mental illness were followed during treatment, in average 16 months, and 1 year after. The profile of occupational roles for the group as a whole pointed to that home maintainer, family member, hobbyist, and friend were roles that were held and valued by more than half of the respondents. The number of valued roles increased significantly from admission to discharge and follow-up. Five out of eight valued roles, friend, hobbyist, worker, family member, and caregiver showed associations with quality of life, and the relationship of friend to quality of life was most consistent over the three measurement points. No association was found between occupational roles and a general measure of mental health. Even though the number of valued roles increased, however, the pattern of roles remained fairly similar over the three occasions, and the picture deviated from results from studies on general populations of similar ages on, e.g. the proportion of respondents holding a worker role and a caregiver role.

• Mental Health Occupational Roles Occupational Therapy Outcome Psychiatry