title: Functional assessment in mental health: lessons from occupational therapy.
abstract: Occupational therapists have been conducting functional assessments since World War I, and this accumulated experience has taught us several critical lessons. First, a comprehensive profile of a patient's functioning requires multiple assessment methods. Second, assessment content and measurement constructs must change with the times. Third, technology can enhance and extend functional assessment. Fourth, performance-based assessments of everyday activities can also be used to measure body functions/impairments. However, while deconstructing activities into body functions/impairments is possible, the results do not reflect patients' abilities to integrate the cognitive, motor, sensory and affective functions necessary to complete a complex activity. Finally, the differential complexity of everyday activities that a patient can master or successfully complete can also provide a ruler with which to measure progress.
authors.affiliation: Professors Emeritus, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Professors Emeritus, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Margo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Holm
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000639:trends; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends
keywords: functional assessment; mental health; occupational therapy; performance assessment