Occupational Therapy in the Treatment of Early Psychosis: a Scoping Review

• Published in: Community mental health journal Vol. 61; no. 7; pp. 1368 - 1377
• Main Authors: Kramer, Ilyse, Zagorac, Sarah, Hefron, Nuriya, Walker, Lauren, Taylor, Caitlyn, Thomas, Elizabeth C., Read, Halley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Clinical assessment; Clinical outcomes; Community and Environmental Psychology; Early intervention; Efficacy; Humans; Interdisciplinary aspects; Literature reviews; Mapping; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental health services; Multidisciplinary teams; Neurosciences; Observational studies; Occupational therapy; Occupational Therapy - methods; Original Paper; Professional associations; Psychiatry; Psychosis; Psychotic Disorders - therapy; Quasi-experimental methods; Schizophrenia; Teams; Treatment outcomes; Young adults; United States > US; Early intervention in psychosis; First-episode psychosis; Young adults, occupational therapy; Occupational recovery
• ISSN: 0010-3853; 1573-2789; 1573-2789
• DOI: 10.1007/s10597-025-01475-8

Extensive literature documents the benefits of intervening early for psychosis and for using interventions to support individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Occupational therapy (OT) is used in the treatment of early psychosis, yet the specific role of OT within these multidisciplinary teams remains underexplored. By mapping existing evidence, this scoping review aims to present the evidence related to the inclusion of OT in early intervention for psychosis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in November 2020. Three authors independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts to extract data, adhering to predetermined eligibility criteria. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) level of evidence scale was applied to assess study quality. Six studies met inclusion criteria. Publication dates ranged from 1980 to 2011. Studies were predominantly conducted in outpatient settings ( n  = 6) across urban locations ( n  = 4). Results included one non-randomized quasi-experimental study, one analytical observational study with a retrospective cohort design, and four descriptive observational studies, including two case reports and two expert opinions on Early Intervention for Psychosis (EIP) programs, with evidence levels varying across the included studies. Despite OT’s documented efficacy in mental health care, reviews specifically exploring OT’s role in early psychosis are lacking. This scoping review identified six relevant studies, highlighting significant variability in interventions, outcomes, and study designs. Rigorous research is needed to establish evidence of OT’s effectiveness and potential contribution to the treatment of early psychosis to address current gaps in care provision.