作業療法において対人関係スキルが向上した軽度精神発達遅滞を伴う成人例

Improving social skills of a mildly mentally retarded adult through occupational therapy: A case study

要旨：社会適応行動障害を伴う軽度精神発達遅の成人例に対し，確立された作業療法アプローチはない．今回，コミュニケーションスキルの低下により社会適応行動に問題が認められた軽度の精神発達遅滞を伴う成人水俣病認定患者へのリハビリテーション介入を経験した．行動変容法の理論に基づく作業療法を実践することで，症例のコミュニケーションスキルが向上し，社会適応行動の改善をもたらすことで社会生活も拡大した．軽度の精神発達遅滞の成人期においても，個の特徴を把握し適切な介入を行うことにより，社会適応行動の改善と社会生活能力の向上が可能であると思われる．その経過を振り返り，症例に対する介入方法とその行動変容について考察する．

　There has been no well-established occupational therapy method that is effective for adults with impaired of social skills accompanied by mild mental retardation. We applied occupational therapy based on behavior modification techniques to an adult Minamata disease patient with mild mental retardation, whose social adjustment skills were impaired due to his poor communication skill. The behavior modification through occupational therapy improved his communication skills and social adjustment behavior, resulting in the expansion of his social life. The results suggest that it is possible for adult cases with social adjustment impairment accompanied by mild mental retardation to improve social behavior and abilities through careful assessment of individual features and appropriate intervention.