Combining cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques and occupational therapy in the rehabilitation of mood disorder clients

Background: In Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Department of Psychiatry, Mood Disorder Psychiatry Division, occupational therapists (OT) use commonly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques among occupational... [ view full abstract ]

Background:

In Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Department of Psychiatry, Mood Disorder Psychiatry Division, occupational therapists (OT) use commonly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques among occupational therapy (OT) theories. Most of the occupational therapists in the division have also training for CBT techniques. The aim is to describe how the combination of OT and CBT techniques may support the rehabilitation of the clients with mood disorder.

Theoretical underpinning:

The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) is used as a theoretical background in occupational therapy in HUH. There are several previous studies which indicate that CBT is an effective method in rehabilitation with mood disorder clients. Due to these evidence based studies the Finnish Medical Society has included CBT to the Current Care Guidelines of mood disorders. HUH has provided education and courses for personnel in CBT techniques.

Intervention:

It has been discovered that MOHO shares a number of features with CBT and we in HUH OT have noticed the same due to our experiences. The target is to strengthen our practice and increase the awareness of this combination among vocational teams and hospital administrators.

Application to practice:

The combination of CBT and OT gives more structure to clinical practice and strengthens client centered practice by giving more tools and skills when the therapists are rehabilitating patients with a wide range of mood disorders. The evidence for this process is building up through present practice and previous research and the goal is to make this combination more established in the future.