Novel Occupational Therapy Program (Step Up) to Facilitate the Transition from Early Intervention in Psychosis Services

• Published in: Community mental health journal Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 50 - 54
• Main Authors: Thomas, Elizabeth C., Hefron, Nuriya, Zagorac, Sarah, Hewlett, Ashley, Wenzel, Ruth Marie, Kramer, Ilyse, Walker, Lauren, Read, Halley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Brief Report; Client satisfaction; Community and Environmental Psychology; Early intervention; Functional impairment; Health services; Leisure; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health care; Money; Occupational therapy; Planning; Program evaluation; Psychiatry; Psychosis; Skills; Time management; Time use; Young adults; Coordinated specialty care; First-episode psychosis; Young adults; Discharge planning
• ISSN: 0010-3853; 1573-2789; 1573-2789
• DOI: 10.1007/s10597-024-01324-0

The purpose of this program evaluation was to examine preliminary outcomes associated with a novel stepdown program for clients of early intervention in psychosis services (“Step Up”) that featured occupational therapy (OT) as a critical treatment component. Clients participated in Step Up for at least 6 months and were administered pre-post assessments of clinician-rated performance of daily living activities and self-perceived performance and satisfaction with daily occupational functioning. Paired samples Wilcoxon tests were used to compare outcomes across the two time points. Data from 23 participants of Step Up were analyzed. Clinician-rated performance of daily living (especially in the areas of money and time management and leisure engagement) and client-rated performance and satisfaction with daily occupational functioning improved significantly over time. Results demonstrate the promise of programs such as Step Up that capitalize on OT and promote functional outcomes during the transition from early intervention.