Sensory Rooms within Mental Health Settings: A Systematic Scoping Review

Figures & data

Figure 1. Selection process of included studies.

Table 1. Data extraction.

Authors and year	Aim	Location; Setting	Methodology	Participants	Main Findings
Barbic et al. (2019)	To understand the perspectives of service users and staff members on the utilization of sensory rooms in acute psychiatric units.	Canada; three inpatient mental health units	Qualitative	Staff (n = 9) and consumers (n = 10) aged between 23 and 73	Four themes: (1) Service user empowerment through self-management; (2) Emotional Regulation; (3) Alternative to current practices and (4) Health provider and service user education
Björkdahl et al. (2016)	To understand the experiences of staff members who work with sensory rooms in psychiatric care	Sweden; nine acute care wards and one forensic long-stay ward	Qualitative	Staff members (n = 126) who worked with the sensory room in the setting	Staff member experiences into three themes: 1) hopes and concerns; (2) focusing on patients’ self-care and (3) the room as a sanctuary
Bobier et al. (2015)	To determine the benefit of a sensory room and sensory modulation strategies in a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit.	New Zealand; hcild and adolescent inpatient unit	Quantitative	Consumers (n = 23) aged between 14 to 18	A statistically significant finding was reported when consumers utilized the sensory room for activating or lifting mood (p = 0.000). Staff rated patients as significantly less aroused when they exited the sensory room (p = 0.000).
Davies et al. (2020)	To review the literature surrounding the use of sensory rooms in adult psychiatric care and describe these findings in relation to the development of a sensory room in a female psychiatric intensive care unit	United Kingdom; Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)	Literature review	Consumers	Four themes were identified in relation to sensory rooms: (1) development; (2) clinical protocol; (3) training and (4) feedback. Sensory room was associated with positive feedback from consumers and staff. There is a link between sensory-based care and decreased use of restrictive practice. There is a need for consumer-centred choice in provision of sensory rooms.
Dorn et al. (2019)	To understand the impact of a sensory room on arousal levels for consumers in an adult mental health rehabilitation unit.	Australia; adult mental health rehabilitation unit	Quantitative	Consumers (n = 24) aged between 23 to 55	A statistically significant reduction in arousal was reported following sensory room use (p < 0.001). The sensory room also used significantly less (p < 0.001) on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays
Forsyth and Trevarrow (2018)	To explore staff perspectives evaluating the effectiveness of sensory rooms in managing emotional distress and de-escalation.	United Kingdom; male adult aute psychiatric ward	Qualitative	Staff (n = 6)	Three themes constructed: (1) Enhancing de-escalation; (2) Sensory interventions and (3) Impact on staff
Hedlund Lindberg et al. (2019)	To understand and describe consumers’ own experiences of using sensory rooms within psychiatric inpatient care.	Sweden; psychiatric inpatient wards	Qualitative	Consumers (n = 28) aged between 15 – 64	Consumers’ experiences were identified into four themes: (1) emotional calm; (2) bodily calm; (3) empowerment and (4) unexpected effects
Lloyd et al. (2015)	To explore the impact of a sensory room on patient distress	Australia; acute adult mental health inpatient unit	Quantitative	Consumers (number of participants were not specified)	A statistically significant reduction in emotional distress was reported following sensory room use (p < 0.001).
Novak et al. (2012)	To examine the outcomes associated with a sensory room in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit.	Australia; acute psychiatric unit	Quantitative	Consumers (n = 75) aged between 20 – 59	No changes were associated with sensory room use and rates of seclusion or aggression. However, significant reductions in distress and disturbed behaviors were found after sensory room use.
Seckman et al. (2017)	To evaluate and determine the impact and use of sensory rooms within an adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit.	United States; adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit	Quantitative	Staff (n = 52) and consumers (n = 65); consumers aged between 12 – 17	Comparison of 6 months pre-sensory and 6 months post-sensory room initiation showed a 26.5% reduction in incidents of restraint and a 32.8% reduction in incidents of seclusion. Overall incidents of patient aggression saw a frequency reduction of 16.4%
Smith and Jones (2014)	1) To identify whether the implementation of a sensory room reduced rates of seclusion; and 2) to explore the experiences of consumers and staff members of using the sensory room	United Kingdom; male only Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)	Mixed Methods	Staff (n = 10) and consumers (n = 7)	Three themes were identified: (1) the sensory room as a positive intervention; (2) a positive influence on the PICU experience and (3) improved communication onthe PICU. Seclusion rates were not significantly reduced following the introduction of the sensory room.
Sutton et al. (2013)	To pilot the introduction of 4 sensory rooms and examine their effect on managing aggression in mental health settings	New Zealand; mental health inpatient units, both adult and adolescent	Qualitative	Staff (n = 40) and consumers (n = 20)	Sensory rooms were helpful in: (1) facilitating a calm state; (2) enhancing interpersonal connection and (3) supporting self-management
West et al. (2017)	To examine and identify characteristics of adolescents using the sensory room, and to identify whether a sensory room impacted seclusion rates.	Australia; adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit	Quantitative	Consumers (n = 56) aged between 12 - 18	Characteristics of sensory rooms were categorized into four themes: (1) Variables associated with sensory room use; (2) change in distress following sensory room use; (3) variables associated with greater distress reduction following sensory room use and (4) seclusion rates following the introduction of the sensory room
Wiglesworth and Farnworth (2016)	To explore the use of a sensory room in an Australian forensic mental health setting through staff and patient perspectives.	Australia; forensic mental Health setting	Qualitative	Staff (n = 4) and consumers (n = 8) aged between 18 – 60	The application of sensory room was identified in four areas: (1) sensory room and mental health unit environments; (2) uses of the sensory room and items; (3) staff supervision and facilitation of sensory room use and (4) documentation

Table 2. Summary of the findings related to key features, application and benefit of sensory rooms.

	Barbic et al. (2019)	Björkdahl et al. (2016)	Bobier et al. (2015)	Davies et al. (2020)	Dorn et al. (2019)	Forsyth and Trevarrow (2018)	Hedlund Lindberg et al. (2019)	Lloyd et al. (2015)	Novak et al. (2012)	Seckman et al. (2017)	Smith and Jones (2014)	Sutton et al. (2013)	West et al. (2017)	Wiglesworth and Farnworth (2016)
Application of sensory rooms
Design, equipment and tools
Tactile equipment	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*
Olfactory tools	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*			*		*
Sensory equipment using taste			*		*			*			*			*
Visual features	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*
Auditory stimuli	*		*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*
Proprioceptive sensory equipment	*	*	*		*	*	*	*	*	*		*
Training programs for staff		*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*		*	*
Training for consumers	*	*			*	*			*			*
Potential benefits of sensory rooms
Safe and supportive space	*	*	*				*			*	*	*		*
Distress management	*	*	*		*	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*
Self-management and control	*	*		*		*	*		*			*		*
Long-term benefits			*			*						*
Benefits for staff		*				*					*	*		*

Barbic, S. P., Chan, N., Rangi, A., Bradley, J., Pattison, R., Brockmeyer, K., Leznoff, S., Smolski, Y., Toor, G., Bray, B., Leon, A., Jenkins, M., & Mathias, S. (2019). Health provider and service-user experiences of sensory modulation rooms in an acute inpatient psychiatry setting. PloS One, 14(11), e0225238. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225238

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Björkdahl, A., Perseius, K.-I., Samuelsson, M., & Lindberg, M. H. (2016). Sensory rooms in psychiatric inpatient care: Staff experiences. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 25(5), 472–479. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12205

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Bobier, C., Boon, T., Downward, M., Loomes, B., Mountford, H., & Swadi, H. (2015). Pilot investigation of the use and usefulness of a sensory modulation room in a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 31(4), 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2015.1076367

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Davies, R., Murphy, K., & Sethi, F. (2020). Sensory room in a psychiatric intensive care unit. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care, 16(1), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.20299/jpi.2019.016

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Dorn, E., Hitch, D., & Stevenson, C. (2019). An evaluation of a sensory room within an adult mental health rehabilitation unit. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 36(2), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2019.1666770

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Forsyth, A. S., & Trevarrow, R. (2018). Sensory strategies in adult mental health: A qualitative exploration of staff perspectives following the introduction of a sensory room on a male adult acute ward. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(6), 1689–1697. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12466

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Hedlund Lindberg, M., Samuelsson, M., Perseius, K.-I., & Björkdahl, A. (2019). The experiences of patients in using sensory rooms in psychiatric inpatient care. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(4), 930–939. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12593

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Lloyd, C., King, R., & Machingura, T. (2015). An investigation into the effectiveness of sensory modulation in reducing seclusion within an acute mental health unit. Advances in Mental Health, 12(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/18374905.2014.11081887

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Novak, T., Scanlan, J., McCaul, D., MacDonald, N., & Clarke, T. (2012). Pilot study of a sensory room in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit. Australasian Psychiatry: Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 20(5), 401–406. https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856212459585

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Seckman, A., Paun, O., Heipp, B., Van Stee, M., Keels-Lowe, V., Beel, F., Spoon, C., Fogg, L., & Delaney, K. R. (2017). Evaluation of the use of a sensory room on an adolescent inpatient unit and its impact on restraint and seclusion prevention. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing: Official Publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc, 30(2), 90–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcap.12174

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Smith, S., & Jones, J. (2014). Use of a sensory room on an intensive care unit. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 52(5), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20131126-06

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Sutton, D., Wilson, M., Van Kessel, K., & Vanderpyl, J. (2013). Optimizing arousal to manage aggression: A pilot study of sensory modulation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 22(6), 500–511. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12010

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West, M., Melvin, G., McNamara, F., & Gordon, M. (2017). An evaluation of the use and efficacy of a sensory room within an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 64(3), 253–263. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12358

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Wiglesworth, S., & Farnworth, L. (2016). An exploration of the use of a sensory room in a forensic mental health setting: Staff and patient perspectives. Occupational Therapy International, 23(3), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1002/oti.1428

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