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OCTH 626

OCTH 626: Psychosocial Occupational Therapy

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of OCTH 610, 612, 614 and 616 or permission of the Chair

Credit Hours: (3)

Develops knowledge and skills for addressing the psychosocial needs of all clients, and for clinical practice with adults with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities affecting their occupational performance.  Applies the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance model, and introduces other theoretical models and frames of reference that inform psychosocial occupational therapy.

 

Detailed Description of Content of the Course

Topics include:

  • The disability experience
  • Family perspectives on illness and disability
  • Therapeutic use of self
  • The teaching-learning process
  • Psychobiological factors:  Regulation of body systems and behaviors
  • Medication issues in psychosocial practice
  • Safety considerations in behavioral health settings
  • Behavior management and de-escalation techniques
  • Classification systems for psychiatric disorders and mental retardation
  • Theoretical models guiding practice in behavioral health and adult developmental disabilities
  • Assessment of the individual with psychosocial or cognitive dysfunction
  • Occupational therapy intervention approaches
  • Group dynamics and group interventions in psychosocial occupational therapy

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Readings, lectures, discussion and audiovisuals will be used, along with practice in pairs and small groups with assessment and intervention techniques.  Each student will develop an intervention plan for a client described in a case study, and design and lead a client-centered, occupation-based group.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

At completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts of human behavior relevant to occupational therapy practice;
  2. Articulate an understanding of the history and philosophical base of occupational therapy in mental health;
  3. Analyze the effects of mental health and genetic conditions on the individual and his/her occupational performance, within the cultural context of family and society;
  4. Describe theories that underlie the practice of occupational therapy in mental health;
  5. Discuss how theories, models of practice and frames of reference are used in occupational therapy evaluation and intervention in mental health settings;
  6. Compare and contrast models of practice and frames of reference used in psychosocial occupational therapy;
  7. Select appropriate assessment tools based on client needs, contextual factors, and psychometric properties of tests;
  8. Interpret evaluation data in relation to accepted terminology of the profession and relevant theoretical frameworks;
  9. Develop occupation-based intervention plans and strategies based on the stated needs of the client, as well as data gathered during the evaluation process and an understanding of occupational therapy theory;
  10. Given a case study of a client with psychosocial and/or cognitive dysfunction, use evaluation findings and appropriate theoretical constructs to develop an occupation-based intervention plan;
  11. Given case studies, select individual and group occupational therapy interventions to enhance safety, wellness, performance in ADLs and IADLs, prevoacational skills, leisure and social participation;
  12. Given a case scenario, select compensatory strategies, such as adaptations to the environment and involvement of caregivers, to enable clients to complete.

 

Assessment Measures

Participation in practice activities, tests, a graded intervention plan and group protocol, and self/peer/instructor evaluations of group leadership skills may be used to evaluate the outcomes of the course.

 

Other Course Information 

 

Review and Approval

Approved:  April, 2010