title: Effectiveness of activity-based group work in community mental health: a systematic review.
abstract: Activity-based group work is widely used by occupational therapists in mental health settings (Lloyd, King, & Bassett, 2002), but the evidence to support this intervention is unclear. We therefore conducted a systematic review focused on the question, "Is activity-based group work effective in helping people with severe and enduring mental illness in community settings improve their functional ability and/or reduce their mental health symptoms?" We used a wide-ranging search strategy, including electronic searching, hand searching, citation searching, and use of gray literature, and identified 136 potentially relevant papers. After assessment of relevance and quality, only 3 articles met the minimum criteria. Heterogeneity and flaws in quality meant it was not possible to make specific inferences for practice from the studies. Large-scale rigorous research, in the form of randomized controlled trials, is urgently needed to identify whether activity-based group work is effective.
authors.affiliation: Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys National Health Service Foundation Trust, Roseberry Park, Marton Road, Middlesbrough TS4 3AF, England. alison.bullock@tewv.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bannigan
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016896:Treatment Outcome