韓国精神科作業療法の現状と課題―精神医療と作業療法の歴史的経緯より─

The current state of Korean psychiatric occupational therapy: Histories of psychiatry and occupational therapy

要旨：韓国の精神保健法は，2008年に改正され作業療法士の関与が認められた．しかし作業療法及び作業療法士の役割に対する定義はなく，従来，作業療法に類するものは，所定の訓練を受けた社会福祉士や看護師などが精神保健専門要員という名称で関与してきた．作業療法士の参入により，精神科作業療法士の専門性が問われることになるが，精神科領域の教育システムが整っていないため，未経験な作業療法士が精神科で勤めるようになった場合，作業療法に対する他職種からの不信感につながる可能性がある．したがって，精神科作業療法の教育システムを改善し，政府や医療機関などに精神科作業療法に対する認識を広める必要がある．

　The amendment of the Mental Health Law of Korea in 2008 permitted the participation of occupational therapists for the first time in medical institutions. However, the role of occupational therapy and occupational therapists is still undefined. Until now, special mental health professionals trained as social workers or nurses have taken on the role of occupational therapist. Through the participation of occupational therapists, the role the psychiatric occupational therapist will need to be defined. However, the education system within the discipline of psychiatry is not yet prepared. Therefore, other health professionals' distrust in occupational therapy will arise if inexperienced occupational therapists practice in the departments of psychiatry. Thus, it is important to improve the education system of psychiatric occupational therapy and to increase awareness of occupational therapy in both the government and medical institutions.