CONCLUSIONS ON OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 



With the exception of Irgocz, nearly every patient on the 

 ward seemed to have improved to some extent before the begin- 

 ning of glandular therapy. It is difficult to decide just what was 

 responsible for this betterment. Probably it was a combination 

 of things, the unusually cheerful ward with its sunny glassed-in 

 piazza, the care of kindly and capable nurses and attendants, 

 the encouraging presence of the occupational therapist with her 

 pleasing personality, interesting work and play and more atten- 

 tion all around than the average patient in the institution was 

 receiving. 



Of the four patients who improved markedly before glandular 

 therapy began, Lefferts and Nolan cannot be credited to occupa- 

 tional work because they did not do enough of it. O'Neil and 

 Jackson, however, seemed to be drawn out of themselves and 

 aided by it. The active men who had no parole of the grounds 

 found occupational work a pleasant way to pass the time. The 

 worried and dreamy patients worked only when urged. With the 

 exception of the badly introverted Abrams, every man who got 

 parole of the grounds preferred freedom outdoors to work in- 

 doors and dropped work partially or completely. 



The work and play undoubtedly made many of the patients 

 happier, but I believe that only in the cases of Jackson and 

 O'Neil did they lend any considerable aid towards improvement 

 or cure. 



Occupational therapy however, is a most valuable indicator of 

 a patient's condition. Any mental improvement or regression is 

 quickly mirrored in his work. 



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