Performance of Occupations in Daily Life Among Individuals with Severe Mental Disorders

Abstract

The aims of this study were to describe self-perceived capability to perform daily occupations, functional cognitive ability and differences between self-perceived capability to perform daily occupations and cognitive levels among individuals with severe mental disorders. Fifty-one persons participated in the study. The participants completed a structured interview concerning their own perceived experiences of daily occupations, they were also observed during performance of a standardized task and assigned a cognitive level score. The results showed that most participants perceived small problems in Activities of Daily Living. On the other hand, Play and Leisure Activities seemed problematic to them. The participants' cognitive levels seem to correlate with their performance of Work and Productive Activities. The results also showed that a structural tool focusing on capability to perform daily occupations enabled mentally disabled persons to have a perspective of their own. Together with observed assessment it gave complementary information about these people's occupational performance. These shared identified occupational problems could serve as a foundation for planning individually adapted interventions.

Key Words:

• Severe mental disorders
• occupations in daily living
• structured assessments