Activity Therapy

Chairperson
Prof. Sami Lama
Department of Mental Health Nursing
Presenter
Rita Pokharel
M.Sc. Nursing
Batch 2011

WELCOME

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Contents

Introduction
History
Goals
Main considerations
Broad categorization
Different forms of physical activity
Mental health benefits of physical activity
Social activities or group activity therapy
Suitable activity therapies for patients with different
diagnosis

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Introduction
This is specialized, professional work planning,
organizing and carrying out habilitation, rehabilitation,
or socialization activities with individuals.
Work involves the application of specialized
activity/therapy skills and/or equipment in a music, art,
horticultural, athletic, recreational or activities of daily
living program.

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

History
Florence Nightingale applied music therapy, visiting by
family member and pet for speedy recovery of wounded
soldiers.
Dr Karl Menninger recognized vital role of recreation in
treatment of psychiatric problems.
After 1970 concept of deinstitutionalization and CBR
started, the role of activity therapy is increased.

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Goals

Obtain a sense of well-being in an individual

Increase self-esteem
Cope the situation in a healthy way
Express creativity
Learn new things
Get personal fulfillment and a sense of control
Promote physical and mental fitness
Encourage socializing
Obtain spiritual fulfillment

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Main Considerations while choosing

activity therapy
Age
Nature and extent of disabilities

Sensory motor skills

Cognitive functioning
Affective functioning
Medical contraindications

Space and time

Supplies and equipment
Staffing
9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Broad categorization
Group
activities
Different
types of psychotherapies

Activity Therapy

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Different forms of physical activities

Motor forms
Sensory forms
Intellectual forms

9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

Mental health benefits of physical

activity
Two meta-analyses reported average effect sizes
of .72 and 1.1 for exercise compared with no
treatment for depression.

Both meta-analyses showed effects for exercise

that were similar to those found from other
psychotherapeutic interventions.

According to ACSM guidelines, a minimal exercise

program should consist of at least three 20- to 60minute exercise sessions each week.
9/27/15 11:49:01 AM

Activity therapy

10

Social activities or group activity

therapy
When
art
and
psychotherapy
are
joined, the scope and depth of each
can be expanded, and when working
together,
they
are
tied
to
the
continuities of humanity's history of
healing
~ Shaun McNiff

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

11

Social activities cont...

Research supports the importance of social
networks in maintaining health and reducing rehospitalizations of persons with mental illnesses.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

12

Suitable Activities
For
Different Conditions

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

13

Activity therapy for anxiety

and depression
Non- competitive activities: Running, lifting weights,
playing basketball, gardening
and other fitness
activities.
Exercises aerobic as well as anaerobic
Yoga therapy
Sudarshan Kriya yoga

(these activities are also beneficial in substance use disorders)

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

14

Activity therapy for Mania

Non competitive activities that allow the use of
energy and expression of feelings.
Activities should
frequently.

be

limited

and

changed

Activities like Creative writing, Poetry, Drawing,

knitting, Painting, Making cloths.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

15

Activity therapy for schizophrenia

Music therapy
It is an addition to standard care helps people
with schizophrenia to improve their global state,
mental state (including negative symptoms) and
social functioning if a sufficient number of
music therapy sessions are provided by
qualified music therapists.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

16

Activity therapy for schizophrenia

cont...
Art therapy
However few studies suggested it is beneficial
therapy, level one evidences have suggested
further evaluation of the use of art therapy for
serious mental illnesses is needed as its
benefits or harms remain unclear.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

17

Activity therapy for schizophrenia

cont...
Exercise therapy
Though the definite conclusion can't be drawn
from level one evidences, they suggested it is
beneficial.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

18

Activity therapy for schizophrenia cont...

Non competitive, solitary meaningful that require some

degree of concentration. Like puzzle, scrabble etc
Simple concrete task. Eg. Clay moulding

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

19

Activity therapy for dementia

Small group non directive activities
Structured activities, requiring little time for
completion
Explain and demonstrate each task
eg. Packing goods.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

20

Activity therapy for dementia

cont...

Manipulative /Puzzles
There were consistent evidences from multiple
trials that cognitive stimulation programmes
benefit cognition in people with mild to
moderate dementia over and above any
medication effects.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

21

Activity therapy for dementia

cont...

Games entertainment
Sensory stimulation
Touch is used as a therapy
Pet therapy

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

22

Activity therapy for childhood and

adolescent disorder
One to one therapy is the best approach in many
conditions.
Play therapy

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Individual vs group
Free vs controlled play
Structured vs unstructured
Directive vs non directive

Activity therapy

23

Activity therapy for ADHD

Coin game
Crossword Puzzles and Picture Puzzles
Memory and Concentration Games
Mind - Body Integration

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

24

 For autistic spectrum disorders free play is

recommended.
Clay moulding therapy and sand play are effective
in childhood mental problems.

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

25

Activity therapy for Intellectual

disability
According to patient's level of functioning
Physical exercises
Domestic activities like cooking

9/27/15 11:49:02 AM

Activity therapy

26

Therapeutic Activities for increasing

Self Esteem
Physical exercises
Keeping a journal Use it to make lists of
accomplishments and positive qualities. Use it to
write about thoughts about self esteem.
AVOID competitive games
Psychological approach

9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

27

Take home message

Activity therapy works as adjunctive treatment with
pharmacotherapy in persons with different mental
disorders.
Many evidences have suggested physical activity therapy
is equally beneficial as psychotherapeutic interventions
when performed effectively.

9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

28

References
Caroline R. Richardson, Guy Faulkner, Judith McDevitt, Gary
S. Skrinar, Dori S. Hutchinson, John D. Piette. Integrating
Physical Activity Into Mental Health Services for Persons
With Serious Mental Illness. Psychiatric Services 56:324
331, 2005
http://www.adta.org/About_DMT
Ren J, Xia J. Dance therapy for schizophrenia available from
http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD006868/dance-therapyfor-schizophrenia. Published Online: October 4, 2013
Mssler K, Chen X, Heldal TO, Gold C. Music therapy for
schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like disorders available from
http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD004025/music-therapy-forschizophrenia-or-schizophrenia-like-disorders. Published
Online: January 31, 2013
9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

29

Cooney GM, Dwan K, Greig CA, Lawlor DA, Rimer J, Waugh FR,
McMurdo M, Mead G. Exercise for depression available from
http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD004366/exercise-for-depression
Gorczynski P, Faulkner G Exercise Therapy for Schizophrenia.
Available from http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD004412/exercisetherapy-for-schizophrenia. Published Online:June 15, 2011
Woods B, Aguirre E, Spector AE, Orrell M. Can cognitive stimulation
benefit
people
with
dementia?
Available
from
http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD005562/can-cognitive-stimulationbenefit-people-with-dementi
Patricia Cabral, Hilary B. Meyer, Donna Ames, Effectiveness of
Yoga Therapy as a Complementary Treatment for Major
Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-Analysis. Prim Care Companion
CNS Disord. 2011; 13(4)

9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

30

 Patricia Cabral, BA, Hilary B. Meyer, BA, and

Donna Ames. Effectiveness of yoga therapy as a
complimentary treatment for major psychiatric
disorder:
A
meta
analysis.
Prim Care Companion CNS Disord v.13(4); 2011
Simple brain exercise activities for ADHD child.
Available
from
http://www.empoweringparents.com/Five-Simple-Br
ain-Exercise-Activities-for-Your-ADHD-Child.php
#ixzz2tDHMfkKn

9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

31

9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

32

9/27/15 11:49:03 AM

Activity therapy

33