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Research Article  |   September 1994
The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills of Persons With Psychiatric Disorders
Ay-Woan Pan; Anne G. Fisher
Author Affiliations
  • Ay-Woan Pan, MS, OTR/L, is a doctoral candidate, Department of Community Health Science, School of Public Health, and a Research Assistant, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Associated Health Professions, 1919 West Taylor, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612
  • Anne G. Fisher, ScD, OTR, is Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Applied Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Article Information
Mental Health / Research
Research Article   |   September 1994
The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills of Persons With Psychiatric Disorders
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, September 1994, Vol. 48, 775-780. doi:10.5014/ajot.48.9.775
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, September 1994, Vol. 48, 775-780. doi:10.5014/ajot.48.9.775
Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the discriminant validity of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) when used to evaluate a heterogeneous sample of subjects with psychiatric disorders.

Method. Sixty subjects, ranging in age from 16 to 72 years, participated in this study; 30 were persons without disorders living in the community; 30 had diagnosed psychiatric disorders. Two univariate F tests were used to test the hypothesis that mean AMPS measures would differ significantly between the group with and the group without psychiatric disorders.

Results. The hypothesis was supported for both AMPS motor and process scale measures. As would be expected among a sample that includes many higher functioning persons, many subjects with psychiatric disorders did just as well as subjects in the group without psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions. Motor as well as process skill abilities of persons with psychiatric disorders should be evaluated. Because the AMPS provides more specific features than other global functional instruments, it can help clinicians plan treatment and intervention more effectively. Further examination of the motor and process skill deficits within and among diagnostic subgroups and of the effect of medication and prolonged hospitalization on AMPS motor and process abilities is indicated.