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From the plethora of articles examining the role of individual disciplines within the community mental health team, one discipline appears almost conspicious by its absence. How has occupational therapy become the forgotten speciality? As a discipline it has much to oner. Historically a young profession, despite the fact that improving health through occupation has been recorded since 600 BC (Hippocrates), it is only in the post-war era that there has been a rapid expansion of occupational therapy services. Initially within the mental health field the profession identified itself as an aide to psy chiatrists. However as occupational therapy was by prescription, its development and treatment pro cesses were limited to craftwork. In the 1950s the psychodynamic principles of activity as a therapy were explored and Fidler (1948) introduced a more scientific method for activity analysis. In addition, the Burg et al (1976) critical performance approach was the single most appropriate method found to identify the range of skills required by occupational therapists in treating patients. This allowed them to define their contribution to psychiatry; so by the 1970s occupational therapy had moved away from being an aide to the psychiatrist to being a coprofessional, co-operating in the treatment and re habilitation of the mentally ill. As we move services for the mentally ill increasingly into the community, what can occupational therapy offer within the community team? One of its main advantages is that occupational therapy philosophy goes beyond treatment of the symptoms or the disease process in encouraging indi viduals through the use of activity to work towards an improved quality of life, despite their disability (Yerxa, 1983). Such a philosophy adds a broader di mension and widens the functioning ability of the team, especially in its interface with the community and primary care services. Secondly, occupational therapists are in a unique position within the team, in that there are no statutory requirements regarding practice made of them as a profession. This allows greater flexibility in applying skills and setting pri orities for work, enabling therapists to respond to perceived need rather than to statutory mandates. Thirdly, several 'core' skills of occupational thera

Occupational therapy – the forgotten speciality within the community mental health team?