Unlock the Power of Sensory-Informed Approaches with SIE's Mental Health and Trauma Courses
Mental Health Courses and Trauma Courses
Go To Mental Health and Trauma Course CatalogueSensory Integration Education (SIE) regularly hosts a range of live and instant-access mental health courses and trauma courses designed to help you understand the sensory dimensions of mental health, trauma and wellbeing.
In this guide, we answer common questions relating to mental health, trauma and sensory integration and processing.
What Is the Link Between Sensory Integration and Mental Health?
Growing evidence exists regarding the relationship between sensory integration and mental health. Let's explore this a little more.
Sensory Integration Differences
We experience the world through our senses. Sensory integration is the process by which our brain organises and interprets sensory information and allows us to respond appropriately. It is a critical part of normal development and daily functioning. It is a process that continues to evolve and change throughout our lives, and this significantly impacts how we live our lives 1,2.
Differences in the way we process sensory information are an expected part of human diversity. However, these differences can sometimes make it challenging for individuals to participate in certain activities or do certain things. Sensory processing differences can affect a person's ability to tolerate or respond to sensory information, understand it, and react intentionally. Difficulties with any part of this process can significantly impact how we spend our time and what we feel able to engage in on a day-to-day basis.
Low Awareness of Sensory Differences and the Impact on Mental Health
There are poor awareness levels of sensory integration and processing differences and, more generally, sensory needs within the UK. A national poll by SIE, which asked over a thousand people representative of the UK adult population how much they had heard about "sensory integration" or "sensory processing difficulties”, found that over a third (36%) had never even heard the terms. These poor levels of awareness are detrimental to the daily lives and mental health of people with sensory integration or sensory processing differences.
Consider what this poor awareness of sensory integration means for people with sensory differences when they come into contact with employers, teachers, civil servants, customer service staff, etc. And how it affects them when their behaviours are not understood and their needs are not properly catered for.
Our schools, businesses, shops and leisure areas have not historically been set up to be accessible or welcoming to people with sensory integration difficulties. Increasing awareness and understanding of the spectrum of sensory needs, and what can be done to support them, is one of the driving forces behind SIE's mission to create accessible and affordable sensory integration and mental health courses.
SIE hopes that more organisations and authorities make an effort to consider how their environments and routines impact people with sensory integration differences and make changes accordingly. The Sensory Street Projectis delivering some fantastic evidence-based advice on making public spaces more accessible for people with sensory processing differences. Increasing awareness of how environments impact people with sensory processing differences is one way to create a more inclusive model of design for both new and existing public spaces 3.
How Does Sensory Integration Impact Mental Health in Everyday Situations?
Throughout our lives, sensory experiences that promote connection with others and meet our individual sensory needs help promote our mental well-being. If we consider our individual activity choices, most people choose activities which ‘agree with’ their sensory preferences2. The environments in which we live our lives can also impact how we process sensory information. Bright lights, the level and type of noise around us, the surfaces we touch can all influence how we function within an environment. The sensory input we receive through activities and our environments can positively influence our sense of well-being and self-esteem and can support executive functioning skills, such as concentration and attention 1,2.
If we consider how we process information in the context of mental ill health, the dynamics of the relationship between sensory integration differences and mental health aren't fully understood. However, evidence exists which shows that there is certainly a connection 5. Relationships between sensory integration differences and heightened anxiety and also with depression have been clearly demonstrated 5,6.
Sensory Integration Differences and Children’s Mental Health
Families have told researchers 7 that their child's behaviour related to sensory processing differences can make it difficult for them and their child to connect with others and participate in social activities, leading to social isolation and the impact that has on mental health.
Children with sensory-motor difficulties, like those with developmental coordination disorder or dyspraxia, can also have a hard time with self-care and joining in sports, which can make it even harder for them to be included in social activities and feel good about themselves. This can lead to low self-esteem, which can increase the risk of mental health problems like anxiety and depression 8.
A recent report, It’s Not Rocket Science, offered suggestions for meeting the sensory needs of autistic children and young people in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient environments. Written by the National Development Team for Inclusion, the report is informed by autistic experience and by what autism 'feels like from the inside' and is based on the experiences of children and young people who have experienced CAMHS inpatient environments.
The full report is rich in detail and the varied experiences of autistic people and recognises the need to personalise support and accommodations to the differing sensory needs of individuals:
"We believe that understanding and meeting sensory needs will reduce distress caused and reduce the use of restrictive practices. It will support providers to 'advance equality' for people they are serving. This report focuses on recommendations that will neutralise the sensory environment. Some people are sensory seeking and will benefit from more sensory input. It is as necessary as ever to tailor support and personal spaces to meet individual need." (It's Not Rocket Science, p14)
Sensory Integration Differences and the Mental Health of Adults and Older Adults
Some research shows that adults with certain psychiatric disorders can also have trouble with specific kinds of sensory processing 9, 10. Altered sensory experiences as a result of symptoms of mental illness can include increased sensitivity to sounds, unusual visual experiences, and challenges using information from the world around to respond to situations appropriately.
Another area of study is how trauma affects mental health throughout the course of a person’s life. Developing and using skills within a model of "trauma-informed care" is the evidenced-based approach to working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Evidence is emerging on how trauma relates to sensory development and sensory integration challenges across the lifespan. Using trauma-informed and sensory integrative approaches together in clinical practice contributes to providing a holistic approach when working with people who have experienced trauma 11.
Some clinical populations may experience a disruption to their mental health as a result of the progression of their illness. For example, people with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) often experience sensory changes as part of the progression of their dementia 12. A sensory integration approach can be used to enhance their quality of life, as well as reduce symptoms of distress.
What Is a Sensory Approach to Mental Health?
A sensory approach in mental health settings involves clinicians empowering clients through education, clinical input and practical skills and tools to assist them with achieving their sensory goals, enhancing their ability to participate in activities that are meaningful to them and enhancing their quality of life.
Mental Health and Trauma Course CatalogueWhat Is a Sensory Approach to Mental Health?
A sensory approach in mental health settings involves clinicians empowering clients through education, clinical input and practical skills and tools to assist them with achieving their sensory goals, enhancing their ability to participate in activities that are meaningful to them and enhancing their quality of life.
Mental Health and Trauma Course CatalogueOur ability to process sensory information is the foundation for more complex skills - such as attention, concentration, problem-solving, emotional regulation and decision-making. Sensory processing differences will, therefore, have an impact on these skills. People who experience mental health difficulties can experience a deterioration in these skills also. These skills are typically reported as components of several mental health diagnoses - and are a source of considerable distress for many people.
Using a sensory approach in mental health settings allows practitioners to evaluate the neurological underpinnings of the difficulties their clients experience. It provides a lens that allows SI Practitioners to consider how underlying challenges with sensory processing can impact a person presenting with a mental health difficulty and, ultimately, how this impacts their ability to participate in their chosen activities.
Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists can all train in sensory integration theory and practice enabling them to safely implement SI interventions in mental health settings.
A thorough understanding of assessing sensory integration and processing differences and how to detect when sensory needs are influencing behaviour can make a dramatic difference to clinical practice. It provides a valuable perspective when considering the person's care needs and how best to support their mental health recovery. Formal training in SI delivers confidence in creating and using individualised support strategies with people with sensory differences. The careful assessment of sensory profiles may help in developing targeted interventions and improving functional/adaptive strategies.
"On reflection, the SI training has had the biggest impact on me as a clinician compared with any other training that I’ve completed within my career. It's shaped my practice and motivated me in many ways."
- Tina Judson, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner within adult inpatient services in the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Care Group.
You can read more from Tina in this SensorNet magazine article: How SI Training Has Influenced My Practice in a Mental Health Setting.
What are the Links Between Trauma and Sensory Integration and Processing?
The link between sensory integration and trauma lies in the intricate relationship between sensory processing and the impact of traumatic experiences on an individual's nervous system. Sensory integration and processing refers to the way the nervous system receives, organises, and responds to sensory input from both the environment and the body. Trauma, on the other hand, involves an overwhelming and distressing experience that can have profound effects on mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Here are some key connections between sensory integration and processing and trauma:
Sensory Processing and the Nervous System:
Trauma can dysregulate the nervous system, leading to heightened states of arousal (hypervigilance) or numbing responses (hypoarousal). Sensory integration plays a role in regulating these states by influencing how the nervous system processes sensory information.
Sensory Triggers and Trauma Responses:
Individuals who have experienced trauma may develop heightened sensitivity to certain sensory stimuli (such as loud noises, specific smells, or tactile sensations) that remind them of the traumatic event. These stimuli can act as triggers, eliciting emotional or physical responses associated with the trauma.
Sensory Modulation and Emotional Regulation
Sensory integration contributes to emotional regulation by helping individuals modulate their responses to sensory input. Trauma survivors may struggle with emotional regulation, and interventions that address sensory integration and processing can assist in managing emotional responses.
Body-Based Approaches to Trauma Recovery:
Trauma is often stored in the body, and sensory-based interventions, such as yoga, massage, or other body-centred therapies, can be effective in addressing trauma. These approaches recognise the connection between sensory experiences and emotional well-being.
Sensory Integration Interventions for Trauma Survivors:
Occupational therapists and other professionals may use sensory integration techniques to support trauma survivors in building coping mechanisms, improving self-regulation, and fostering a sense of safety and control.
Grounding Techniques:
Sensory integration activities can serve as grounding techniques for individuals experiencing dissociation or flashbacks, helping them reconnect with the present moment and their immediate surroundings.
Understanding the link between sensory integration and processing and trauma is crucial for developing trauma-informed approaches in therapeutic settings. Integrating sensory-based interventions can enhance the effectiveness of trauma recovery strategies by addressing the physiological and emotional aspects of the individual's experience.
What Mental Health and Trauma Courses Are Available?
SIE hosts a range of mental health courses and courses on trauma-informed approaches suitable for professionals:
Implement a Sensory-informed Distress and Crisis Response Plan in Your Mental Health Setting
For sensory integration trained professionals looking to adapt their SI knowledge to mental health settings
This instant access course gives you the tools and support to adapt your SI knowledge to mental health settings. It is ideal for SI Practitioners and those currently in training and working in mental health settings. The course is designed to help professionals implement a sensory-informed distress crisis response plan in their mental health settings. Participants will learn how to create and integrate a sensory-based approach to address the unique needs of individuals experiencing distress or crisis.
By implementing a sensory-informed crisis response plan, professionals can enhance the effectiveness of their support and contribute to improved outcomes for individuals facing mental health challenges. The mental health course includes an expert lecture on essential pharmacology to understand the impact of your clients' medications (both regular and PRN) on sensory processing and engagement.
How Can I Incorporate a Sensory Approach Into My Mental Health Service?
PGDip in Sensory Integration
The Postgraduate Diploma in Sensory Integration, accredited by Sheffield Hallam University, is the ideal qualification for therapists wishing to establish a sensory approach within their mental health service.
Successful completion of this university-accredited qualification conveys the status of Advanced Practitioner. Qualifying as an Advanced Practitioner equips you to establish or further embed SI within your service. It truly is a transformative experience. The final section of the course, SI Module 4, takes you through service planning, and a more in-depth look at outcome measures, benchmarking and translating the research to practice.
Find Out More
How Can I Look After My Mental Health and Sensory Needs?
A better understanding of our own sensory-related preferences and needs can contribute to looking after our own mental health. SIE firmly believes that each individual has their own unique sensory processing patterns and preferences, which are influenced by their life events, neurological development and lived environments. Like our mental health, our sensory well-being is dependent on engaging in practices which support our unique sensory processes.
We have a wide range of senses which capture information about the world around us. Textures, smells, noises, tastes and colours around us influence how we experience the world and also how we interact with it. Each person has a different mixture of sensory preferences and a different meaning associated with sensory experiences.
One way we can promote mental well-being is by choosing to engage in or avoid activities which match our sensory preferences 1,2. For example, the decision to go on a rollercoaster may trigger feelings of excitement and exhilaration for some, while others may experience feelings of anxiety or discomfort. Respecting our unique sensory preferences is one of the keys to ensuring we obtain sensory input which supports our participation while contributing to our sensory and mental well-being.
Research on Mental Health, Trauma and Sensory Integration and Processing
This is a fascinating and growing area of research. Here are a few papers relating to mental health, trauma and sensory integration or sensory processing:
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“It is a Big Spider Web of Things” Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults in Public Spaces
Sensory processing differences are commonly experienced by autistic individuals, and some sensory experiences can greatly impact the mental health and quality of life of individuals. Previous research suggests that adapting the sensory nature of environments may improve individual experiences and engagement with these spaces. However, knowledge about which public places are particularly disabling is limited, especially from the perspective of autistic individuals. The authors found that indoor public spaces were more disabling than outdoor public spaces, and they identified six key principles that underlie how disabling or enabling sensory environments are.
MacLennan, K., Woolley, C., 21andsensory, E., Heasman, B., Starns, J., George, B., & Manning, C. (2022). “It Is a Big Spider Web of Things”: Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults in Public Spaces. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2022.0024
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The Perceived Causal Relations Between Sensory Reactivity Differences and Anxiety Symptoms in Autistic Adults
Rates of anxiety are inordinately high in autistic adults. Sensory reactivity differences, such as hyperreactivity (e.g., strong reactions to sound), hyporeactivity (e.g., no or slower reactions to pain), and seeking (e.g., fascination with spinning objects), are diagnostic criteria of autism and have been linked with anxiety. Understanding how individuals perceive these to be causally related can impact the assessment and treatment of anxiety. This study examined the perceived causal relations (PCR) between sensory reactivity differences and anxiety in autistic adults. It found sensory reactivity hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking to be significantly correlated with anxiety. Additionally, the results showed total sensory hyperreactivity, and visual, auditory, and olfactory hyperreactivity, to be perceived as significantly more of a cause of anxiety than an effect, and total sensory seeking, and tactile and vestibular seeking, to be perceived as significantly more of an effect of anxiety than a cause.The authors concluded that future individualised approaches to treating anxiety in autistic individuals may benefit from differentiating between potential sensory causes of anxiety (e.g. hypersensitivities) vs. potential sensory effects of anxiety (e.g. sensory seeking behaviors).
Verhulst, I., MacLennan, K., Haffey, A., & Tavassoli, T. (2022). The Perceived Causal Relations Between Sensory Reactivity Differences and Anxiety Symptoms in Autistic Adults. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2022.0018
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The Relationship Between Sensory Reactivity Differences and Mental Health Symptoms in Preschool-Age Autistic Children
This study found that in autistic preschoolers, externalising mental health symptoms, such as hyperactivity, are related to sensory seeking (seeking out or being fascinated with sensory stimuli), and internalising mental health symptoms, such as depression, are related to sensory hyper-reactivity (sensitivity to sensory stimuli). The results also showed that whilst the relationships between externalising symptoms and sensory seeking is seen across participants, the relationship between internalising symptoms and sensory hyper-reactivity was only seen in autistic preschoolers who used few to no words. This has important implications for the assessment of sensory differences as part of more rigorous mental health assessments, especially in autistic people who use few to no words.
Rossow, T., MacLennan, K., & Tavassoli, T. (2021). The relationship between sensory reactivity differences and mental health symptoms in preschool‐age autistic children. Autism Research, 14(8). https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2525
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Sensory Gating Deficits and Childhood Trauma in the Onset of First-episode Schizophrenia
This study investigated the association between sensory gating (the ability to filter irrelevant sensory input in the brain) deficit, childhood trauma and schizophrenia. The researchers found that childhood trauma caused or exacerbated sensory gating deficits for study participants and concluded that chronic stress, such as childhood trauma, may contribute to the development of schizophrenia by affecting sensory gating deficits.
Wang, L., Zeng, W., Yin, Y., Zhou, Y., Huang, J., Zhang, P., Chen, S., Fan, H., Luo, X., Tan, S., Wang, Z., Li, C.-S. R., Tian, B., Tian, L., Ma, C., Li, Y., & Tan, Y. (2023). Sensory gating deficits and childhood trauma in the onset of first-episode schizophrenia. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 80, 103385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103385 -
Sensory Processing Difficulties in Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-Analysis
This study examined the sensory processing patterns of adolescent and adult individuals with a broad spectrum of different psychiatric conditions. The researchers found that differences in sensory processing are a phenomenon associated with a broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions and that overall, study participants displayed elevated levels of low registration, sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding and lowered sensory seeking behaviour.
van den Boogert, F., Klein, K., Spaan, P., Sizoo, B., Bouman, Y. H. A., Hoogendijk, W. J. G., & Roza, S. J. (2022). Sensory processing difficulties in psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 151, 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.020
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Interoceptive Pathways to Understand and Treat Mental Health Conditions
This review discussed how disruptions to the interoceptive sensory system may contribute to clinical mental health conditions; including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The researchers concluded that there is evidence to suggest that clinical conditions characterised by emotion disturbance, i.e., anxiety, are associated with differences in interoception.
Nord, C. L., & Garfinkel, S. N. (2022). Interoceptive pathways to understand and treat mental health conditions. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 26(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.03.004
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Synchrony and Mental Health: Investigating the Negative Association Between Interpersonal Coordination and Subclinical Variation in Autism and Social Anxiety
This study investigated the relationship between interpersonal coordination (the degree to which the behaviours in an interaction are non-random, patterned or synchronised in both timing and form) and subclinical variation in autism and social anxiety. The researchers found no direct association between interpersonal coordination and social anxiety; however concluded that the dynamics underlying coordination and, to a lesser extent, the social environment in which the coordination and interaction occurred influenced the relationship between symptoms of mental health and coordinated behaviour.
Macpherson, M. C., & Miles, L. K. (2023). Synchrony and mental health: Investigating the negative association between interpersonal coordination and subclinical variation in autism and social anxiety. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 105, 104439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104439 -
Distinct Mental Health Profiles in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Latent Class Analysis and Associations
This study investigated patterns of mental health in a group of children with DCD. The researchers found four distinct categories in the 119 participants aged 4-16 years and found that 3 out of 4 children presented with mental health difficulties. The four categories are: no problems; hyperactivity problems; internalising problems; and internalising and externalising problems.
Pimenta, R. A., Fuchs, C., Fears, N. E., Mariano, M., & Tamplain, P. (2023). Distinct mental health profiles in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A latent class analysis and associations. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 132, 104377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104377 -
“I Want to Fit In… but I Don’t Want to Change Myself Fundamentally”: A Qualitative Exploration of the Relationship Between Masking and Mental Health for Autistic Teenagers
This qualitative study investigated autistic teenagers’ experiences of masking and the impact on their mental health. The researchers found that the experiences of masking and authenticity affected the mental health of participants, particularly anxiety and mood, and related factors, including self-image, connectedness, energy levels and sensory experiences.
Chapman, L., Rose, K., Hull, L., & Mandy, W. (2022). “I want to fit in… but I don’t want to change myself fundamentally”: A qualitative exploration of the relationship between masking and mental health for autistic teenagers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 99, 102069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2022.102069
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Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
This study investigated sensory processing differences in children and adolescents with ADHD. The researchers found that participants in the study presented with sensory processing differences in multiple sensory modalities. The children with ADHD in the study presented with high scores on sensory seeking, and most of them had difficulties in movement and touch processing.
Rani, I., Agarwal, V., Arya, A., & Mahour, P. (2022). Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Attention Disorders, 27(2), 108705472211293. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547221129306 -
Risk and Resilience Factors Impacting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Siblings of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Conditions: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review
This systematic review investigated the self-reported mental health and wellbeing of siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs). The researchers found that the key group of risk and resilience factors in relation to mental health for siblings of individuals with NDCs were related to the themes of knowledge, acceptance and understanding of differences.
Wolff, B., Magiati, I., Roberts, R., Pellicano, E., & Glasson, E. J. (2022). Risk and resilience factors impacting the mental health and wellbeing of siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: A mixed methods systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 98, 102217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102217
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A Longitudinal Study of the Relationships Between Sleep Problems in Autistic Children and Maternal Mental Health
This longitudinal study investigated the relationship between sleep problems in autistic children and maternal mental health. Associations were found at two time points (around 5-6 years and 13-14 years). The association between child sleep at age 12 to 13 years and maternal mental health at age 14 to 15 years was particularly significant. As this is a transition time with children attending secondary school, this time likely results in increased stress for both the young person and their caregivers. In the current study, 42% of children aged 12 to 13 years had difficulties getting to sleep on four or more nights per week, which potentially impacted on parental downtime and parental mental health.
Baker, E. K., Giallo, R., Seymour, M., Hearps, S. J., & Wood, C. E. (2023). A longitudinal study of the relationships between sleep problems in autistic children and maternal mental health. Autism, 136236132211473. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221147397 -
Evaluating a Virtual Reality Sensory Room for Adults with Disabilities
This new mixed methods study investigated the impact of an immersive virtual reality (VR) sensory room experience on adults with disabilities. The researchers found improvements in anxiety and depression from pre to post, with changes in sensory processing, but no significant changes in adaptive behaviour or personal well-being. In addition to the quantitative findings, qualitative findings indicated that participants perceived there was a positive impact on anxiety as well as enhanced social participation after accessing the VR sensory room.
Mills, C. J., Tracey, D., Kiddle, R., & Gorkin, R. (2023). Evaluating a virtual reality sensory room for adults with disabilities. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26100-6 -
Emotion Regulation and Executive Function: Associations with Depression and Anxiety in Autism
This study investigated the association between emotion regulation, executive function and depression and anxiety in autistic adolescents and young people. The researchers found that poor emotion regulation was significantly associated with both depression and anxiety in this population.
Conner, C. M., Elias, R., Smith, I. C., & White, S. W. (2023). Emotion regulation and executive function: Associations with depression and anxiety in autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 101, 102103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102103
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The Relationship Between Communication Skills, Sensory Difficulties, and Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
This study investigated the association between communication skills, sensory difficulties, and anxiety in autistic children. The researchers found a significant correlation between higher scores on the Short Sensory Profile questionnaire and anxiety in the study population.
Khaledi, H., Aghaz, A., Mohammadi, A., Dadgar, H., & Meftahi, G. H. (2022). The relationship between communication skills, sensory difficulties, and anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-022-00236-7
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Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
This study investigated sensory processing differences in children and adolescents with ADHD. The researchers found that participants with ADHD presented with significantly higher scores on all the quadrants and sensory sections of the Sensory Profile 2 compared to participants without ADHD.
Rani, I., Agarwal, V., Arya, A., & Mahour, P. (2022). Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Attention Disorders, 27(2), 108705472211293. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547221129306 -
Trajectories of Emotional and Behavioral Problems in School-age Children with Coordination Difficulties and Their Relationships to ASD/ADHD Traits
This study investigated patterns in the trajectory of emotional and behavioural problems in school-age children with motor coordination difficulties. The researchers found that the presence of motor coordination difficulties in children was a risk factor for emotional and behavioural problems at a later stage.
Mikami, M., Hirota, T., Adachi, M., Takahashi, M., Nishimura, T., Saito, M., Nakamura, K., & Yamada, J. (2023). Trajectories of emotional and behavioral problems in school-age children with coordination difficulties and their relationships to ASD/ADHD traits. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 133, 104394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104394 -
Polysensoriality and Aesthetics: The Lived Sensory Experiences of Adults with Mental Illness
This qualitative study investigated how the lived sensory experiences of adults with psychotic disorders affect their occupations. The researchers found that participants' sensations were never experienced in isolation, and the lived experience of sensations was affected by other sensations at the moment and previously lived sensory experiences. The researchers recommend that Occupational Therapists include the role of sensory habits and sensory anchors in how their clients perform their occupations when carrying out assessments.
Bailliard, A., Lee, B., & Bennett, J. (2023). Polysensoriality and Sensoriality and Aesthetics: The Lived Sensory Experiences of Adults with Mental Illness. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 000841742211458. https://doi.org/10.1177/00084174221145811
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Interoception Is Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study
This pilot study investigated the relationship between interoception differences and anxiety and depression in pregnant women. The researchers found that participants who present with reduced ability to sustain and control attention to body sensations also presented with higher rates of anxiety.
Noda, M., Sato, Y., Suetsugu, Y., & Seiichi Morokuma. (2022). Interoception is associated with anxiety and depression in pregnant women: A pilot study. PLOS ONE, 17(5), e0267507–e0267507. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267507 -
Patterns of Sensory Modulation by Age and Sex in Young People on the Autism Spectrum
This study investigated patterns of sensory modulation by age and sex in autistic young people aged 3-14 years. The researchers found that elevated sensory modulation symptoms were reported for the primary school group in comparison to the other age cohorts on 15/34 items on the Short Sensory Profile 2. The study also found that autistic girls also appeared to experience more symptoms in sensory modulation related to emotion regulation and anxiety.
Lane, A. E., Simpson, K., Masi, A., Grove, R., Moni, M. A., Montgomery, A., Roberts, J., Silove, N., Whalen, O., Whitehouse, A. J. O., & Eapen, V. (2022). Patterns of sensory modulation by age and sex in young people on the autism spectrum. Autism Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2762
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Mental Health–Related Hospitalizations among Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Autism in the United States: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Analysis of National Hospital Discharge Data
This cross-sectional study investigated mental health-related hospitalisations among autistic young people aged 10–20. The researchers found that in the United States, hospitalisations for mental health conditions in autistic adolescents and emerging adults are more frequent than for young people who are not autistic. Further, just under half (45%) of hospital discharges for autistic individuals were mental health discharges.
McMaughan, D. J. (DJ), Imanpour, S., Mulcahy, A., Jones, J., & Criss, M. M. (2023). Mental health–related hospitalizations among adolescents and emerging adults with autism in the United States: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of national hospital discharge data. Autism, 136236132211435. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221143592
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The Unique Face of Comorbid Anxiety and Depression: Increased Interoceptive Fearfulness and Reactivity
This study investigated interoception and reactivity in individuals with depression and anxiety. The researchers found that interoceptive signals are processed differently in individuals with both depression and anxiety than in individuals with only depression. They also suggest that exaggerated reactivity to aversive interoceptive sensations in anxious depressive individuals could contribute to avoidance behaviour.
The unique face of comorbid anxiety and depression: increased interoceptive fearfulness and reactivity - ProQuest. (n.d.). www.proquest.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024, from https://www.proquest.com/openview/b9975c2556e65b3f90f8a074f7035275/1?cbl=2046456&pq-origsite=gscholar
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Atypical Sensory Processing Is Associated with Lower Body Mass Index and Increased Eating Disturbance in Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa
This study investigated sensory processing differences in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). The researchers found that participants with AN showed significantly lower registration, less sensation seeking and increased sensory sensitivity as well as sensation avoiding on the Adult Sensory Profile compared to healthy control individuals in the study.
Saure, E., Lepistö-Paisley, T., Raevuori, A., & Laasonen, M. (2022). Atypical Sensory Processing Is Associated With Lower Body Mass Index and Increased Eating Disturbance in Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.850594 -
“Work with Us”: A Delphi Study about Improving Eating Disorder Treatment for Autistic Women with Anorexia Nervosa
This study investigated how to best support autistic women with anorexia nervosa within eating disorder services. Considering the impact of autistic and sensory traits on restrictive eating, participants suggested that autistic women might benefit from extra support with regulating their sensory needs and also managing the impact of traumatic social experiences.
Field, S. L., Fox, J. R. E., Jones, C. R. G., & Williams, M. O. (2023). “Work WITH us”: a Delphi study about improving eating disorder treatment for autistic women with anorexia nervosa. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00740-z -
Sensory Modulation Dysfunction in Child Victims of Trauma from four residential care sites in Southern Gauteng, South Africa
This study investigated sensory modulation differences in child victims of trauma in South Africa. Participants aged 6-14 years were assessed using the Child Sensory Profile 2nd Edition. The researchers found that participants presented with significantly higher scores for touch processing (indicating a sensory profile characterised by an extreme response to tactile stimuli) as well as difficulties with socio-emotional and attentional behaviours.
Joseph, R., van der Linde, J., & Franzsen, D. (2022). Sensory modulation dysfunction in child victims of trauma from four residential care sites in southern Gauteng, South Africa. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(2), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2022/vol52n2a6
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Predicting Fears of Intimacy Among Individuals With Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms by Their Sensory Profile
The authors provide a review evidencing the links between symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress and sensory processing difficulties. This is followed by a study of the contribution of sensory processing difficulties to impaired intimate relationships of people with post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Engel-Yeger, B., Palgy-Levin, D., & Lev-Wiesel, R. (2015). Predicting fears of intimacy among individuals with post-traumatic stress symptoms by their sensory profile. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(1), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022614557628
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Reasons to Choose Mental Health Courses and Trauma Courses from Sensory Integration Education
- Sensory Integration Education is a leading provider of sensory integration courses, including on the crossover between sensory integration, mental health and trauma topics.
- Sensory Integration Education courses are delivered online by our experts for your convenience, meaning you can access them from wherever you are in the world.
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All our instant access courses, live webinars, and Sensory Spotlight talks from world-leading practitioners are available via our Lifelong Learning Programme.
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Our postgraduate pathway to qualifying as an SI Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner is accredited by the UK's award-winning Sheffield Hallam University.
- All our short courses include a Certificate of Completion for your records, and our instant-access courses carry CPD points.