Ernst Westerlund - A Swedish doctor of occupation

Abstract

The treatment methods of Dr Ernst Westerhmd (1839-1924), one of the people often named in the history of Swedish occupational therapy, are examined in this paper. During Westerlund's lifetime, he built up a reputation as the wonder doctor from Enköping using various occupations in treating patients. The basis for his practice was individualisation of treatment and a genuine engagement and authority, combined with a deep belief in patients' will to recovery. He stressed balance between various types of occupation and viewed work as essential from a meaningcentred point of view. He also used the town of Enköping itself as a therapeutic environment. The ideas put into practice by Westerhmd leave much for us to learn in today's practice of occupational therapy. His ideas are consistent with the moral treatment movement of the nineteenth century. ©Whurr Publishers Ltd.