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The term neurodiversity encompasses neurological differences such as clinical labels of autism, learning disabilities, synesthesia, hyperactivity disorders, and more. Proponents of the neurodiversity movement argue that current therapeutic and medical practices often attempt to "normalize" behaviors and ways of participation that originate from these differences in neurology and contribute to an individual's sense of identity. This paper argues that an ethical and morally just occupational therapy practice should affirm neurodivergent ways of being, and that occupational therapists must be active agents of change by listening to and collaborating with their neurodiverse clientele. We focus the discussion on our work with autistic individuals and consider past and current practice trends, including applied behavioral analysis, in light of various ethical mandates for occupational therapy. We conclude with suggestions for core tenets of neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy practice with the hope that clinicians can apply these concepts to their clinical work and recognize how meaningful participation can be achieved by creating goals and interventions through a neurodiversity framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) in the United States cause many preventable deaths each year. Finding effective ways to manage SUDs is vital to improving outcomes for individuals seeking treatment. This has increased interest in using e-health technologies in behavioral healthcare settings. This research is part of a larger study evaluating the efficacy of the NIATx coaching intervention for implementing RISE Iowa, an e-health patient recovery app, in SUD treatment organizations and seeks to examine clinician perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to its implementation. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 clinicians from 9 different intervention sites involved in the study. Results: Major barriers to implementing e-health technology include inability to access the technology, lack of time for both patients and clinicians, and a perceived lack of patient motivation to make changes. Facilitators to implementation include collaboration with other staff using e-health technology and integrating technology use into typical workflows. Conclusions: Implementation of e-health technology in SUD treatment will require integrating the technology into clinical workflows and improving patient access to the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a need for effective behavioural interventions in dentistry. This paper presents an innovative behavioural intervention for young adults with dental caries, in an interdisciplinary collaboration between dental personnel and licensed psychologist in general dental care. The intervention has been evaluated in an RCT, with positive effects on oral health behaviour. Method: The intervention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a recent form of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), was adapted to young adult patients (18–25 years of age) with high dental caries activity. Results: The intervention included two individual sessions, provided by a clinical psychologist at general dental clinics. The rationale for selecting ACT as the theory base is presented, together with the treatment manual and a case illustration. Conclusions: ACT may be a promising alternative for behavioural interventions in dentistry for patients with oral diseases, specifically dental caries. Interprofessional collaboration between psychologists and dental personnel opens up for new possibilities to help and treat patients with various health issues in public dental care. Trial registration: TRN ISRCTN15009620www.isrctn.com, retrospectively registered 14/03/2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]