Abstract

"Introduction. The development of a fundamental knowledge base for occupationaltherapy has led us to formulate a formal science of the profession. However, this presentsus with a conceptual challenge. We must ask the following questions: 1) What otherknowledge bases will be connected with this science of occupational therapy, and howwill they be connected? 2) What are the subjects of study? 3) What is the methodologyfor approaching those subjects of study from the perspective of psychiatric treatment; and 4) What are the predictions or hypotheses that this science can offer to help develop theprofession of occupational therapy? In this paper, we discuss the conceptual levels thatare generated from a thorough study of the fundamental components of the profession.These conceptual levels establish the theoretical limits of the scientific and technologicalknowledge of this profession. Further, we lay the foundation for a cognitive spectrum thatlinks these theoretical bases with the practical applications of occupational therapy"