Initially developed in Finland, the approach has spread across Europe and the Americas, inspiring clinicians and health administrators with research results showing it has reduced the frequency of ‘psychotic episodes’ in those who receive the services, and preliminary data that shows that incidences of psychotic disorder diagnosis has dropped in the region where the practice is the dominant form of care.
After 5 years of OD treatment in Lapland, 82% of participants had no remaining psychotic symptoms and 86% had returned to full employment. Only 35% had used antipsychotic drugs (Seikkula et al., 2006). Similar results emerged from Tornio between 2003 and 2005.