“It Would Be a Shame to Lose Them”: A Critical Historical, Scoping, and Expert Review on the Use of Projective Assessments in Occupational Therapy, Part I

Abstract

Projective assessments have a long history in occupational therapy, yet their relevance may be questioned. This first article reviews the clinical utility of projective assessments by providing a critical history of their development, followed by a scoping review of the current evidence. The second article outlines the opinions of nine experts in this field. Through this comprehensive process, conceptual and methodological issues are articulated in order to suggest educational and clinical guidelines, and future research avenues. The place of projective assessments in occupational therapy is demonstrated as a salient specialty area of practice in the current evolving landscape of mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• epistemology
• evidence-based
• expressive assessment
• psychiatric discourse
• therapeutic evaluation