TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of sensory modulation for people with schizophrenia
T2 - A multisite quantitative prospective cohort study
AU - Machingura, Tawanda
AU - Shum, David
AU - Lloyd, Chris
AU - Murphy, Karen
AU - Rathbone, Evelyne
AU - Green, Heather
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is part of a PhD project being completed at Griffith University. The authors would like to acknowledge the input received from Professor Sharon Mickan of Bond University. The authors would also like to acknowledge the support received from staff at Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service and West Moreton Hospital and Health Service, particularly the following occupational therapists: Christopher Tomkins, Eliza Gawne, Lorraine Dowell, and Gurjeet Kaur. Open access publishing facilitated by Griffith University, as part of the Wiley - Griffith University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. [Correction added on 19 May 2022, after first online publication: CAUL funding statement has been added.].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Occupational Therapy Australia.
PY - 2022/4/19
Y1 - 2022/4/19
N2 - Introduction: Current research evidence suggests that people with schizophrenia have sensory processing difficulties. Sensory modulation has growing evidence for use in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which health, social, cognitive, and occupational functioning outcomes were impacted by sensory modulation interventions for people with schizophrenia. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study using a waitlist control design was used in two large hospital and health services in Queensland, Australia. The study recruited patients who used sensory modulation (n = 30) across the two hospitals and those who did not use sensory modulation interventions as a control (n = 11). Results were analysed using a series of planned comparisons including independent and paired t-tests, and mixed ANOVA was used whenever statistically indicated. The analysed measures were pre- and post-intervention scores. Results: This study found no statically significant differences between the control and intervention groups at both pre- and post-intervention. However, analysis of results from within the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-test scores on distress, occupational functioning, and health and social functioning but not on sensory processing and global cognitive processing. Further analysis of results from this study, compared with those from an earlier study on the general population showed significant differences in Low Registration and Sensation Avoiding, as measured by the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile, between participants with schizophrenia and those without schizophrenia. Conclusion: This study provides evidence to suggest that sensory modulation interventions can be complementary to standard care when utilised appropriately in clinical settings. Findings also suggest that the sensory profile of people with schizophrenia is different to that of the general population and this may have clinical implications. Further longitudinal research is needed with larger and randomised samples, using more targeted measures to better explore effectiveness of sensory modulation interventions.
AB - Introduction: Current research evidence suggests that people with schizophrenia have sensory processing difficulties. Sensory modulation has growing evidence for use in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which health, social, cognitive, and occupational functioning outcomes were impacted by sensory modulation interventions for people with schizophrenia. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study using a waitlist control design was used in two large hospital and health services in Queensland, Australia. The study recruited patients who used sensory modulation (n = 30) across the two hospitals and those who did not use sensory modulation interventions as a control (n = 11). Results were analysed using a series of planned comparisons including independent and paired t-tests, and mixed ANOVA was used whenever statistically indicated. The analysed measures were pre- and post-intervention scores. Results: This study found no statically significant differences between the control and intervention groups at both pre- and post-intervention. However, analysis of results from within the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-test scores on distress, occupational functioning, and health and social functioning but not on sensory processing and global cognitive processing. Further analysis of results from this study, compared with those from an earlier study on the general population showed significant differences in Low Registration and Sensation Avoiding, as measured by the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile, between participants with schizophrenia and those without schizophrenia. Conclusion: This study provides evidence to suggest that sensory modulation interventions can be complementary to standard care when utilised appropriately in clinical settings. Findings also suggest that the sensory profile of people with schizophrenia is different to that of the general population and this may have clinical implications. Further longitudinal research is needed with larger and randomised samples, using more targeted measures to better explore effectiveness of sensory modulation interventions.
KW - mental health
KW - occupational therapy
KW - psychosocial intervention
KW - quantitative evaluation
KW - schizophrenia
KW - sensory disorders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128429054&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1440-1630.12803
DO - 10.1111/1440-1630.12803
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85128429054
SN - 0045-0766
VL - 69
SP - 424
EP - 435
JO - Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
JF - Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
IS - 4
ER -