BACKGROUND
Anxiety is a global health issue associated with reduced life quality and wellbeing. Developing an overview of studies of occupational therapy interventions for people with anxiety is an essential first step to understanding the existing knowledge. This will increase the impact of future interventions.
OBJECTIVE
This scoping review will identify: i) what occupational therapy interventions exist for adults with anxiety; ii) the intervention characteristics, including outcomes used and impact observed.
METHODS
We considered all studies and publications of occupational therapy that include community-dwelling adults with a diagnosis of anxiety who are 18 years and older and diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (DSM criteria). Databases searched were PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, JBI EBP database, PLoS, Social Care Online, The Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Embase, PsycArticles, Psychology & Behavioural Sciences Collection, TRIP database, OpenGrey, OAIster, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Titles and abstracts were screened against the inclusion criteria using Rayyan QCRI. Potentially relevant studies were fully retrieved and assessed against the inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers completed the study selection. Data were extracted using a data extraction tool. Data were charted using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist in alignment with the review objectives.
RESULTS
Eighteen studies were included in the review. Articles were published in the northern hemisphere and were equally split between occupational therapy-specific and non-specific journals. Two RCTs (n=2, 11%) were included with the remainder being quasi-experimental, non-RCT designs (n=16, 89%). Articles reported multiple interventions and data collection methods in various practice settings. Eight interventions with a range of characteristics were identified. Thirty-one different outcomes were reported. Twenty-four individual impacts were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Future research should report on the impact of occupational therapy interventions on activity as a key outcome of interest, as opposed to impairment-based outcome measures. This scoping review reinforces previous research findings and highlights the need for further high-quality research into occupation-based or occupation-focused interventions for community-dwelling adults living with anxiety
CLINICALTRIAL
Open Science Framework (osf.io/js549).
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT
RR2-10.2196/41230