OCCUPATIONAL DYSFUNCTION AND RECOVERY IN MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS

Abstract

Occupational dysfunction is a core consequence of mood and anxiety disorders, profoundly affecting participation in self-care, productivity, leisure, and work. Within contemporary recovery-oriented mental health care, occupational therapy (OT) offers a distinctive contribution by focusing on meaningful activity engagement, role reconstruction, and community inclusion rather than symptom reduction alone. This chapter examines occupational dysfunction associated with common mood and anxiety disorders, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder. Drawing on occupational science and recovery paradigms, it highlights how disruptions in occupational performance, identity, and balance undermine quality of life and long-term participation. The chapter further explores occupation-centred assessment and intervention processes, including activity and lifestyle interventions, work-focused rehabilitation, and return-to-work coordination within multidisciplinary care. Emphasis is placed on person-centred, recovery-oriented, and work-focused occupational therapy practices that enable sustainable engagement, resilience, and meaningful life roles across fluctuating courses of mental illness.