Lesson 8: History of PSR


Attention

To understand where we are it is vital to understand where we have come from. Ideas, such as PSR, do not arise in a vacuum. Many individuals and many events in history led to the development of these ideas and the philosophies that describe our work.


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify ways in which current PSR philosophy aligns with it's origins in IL and Civic Rights

Teaching

Deinstitutionalization and PSR

  • There is a connection between the emergence of PSR and the Deinstitutionalization movement of the 60’s and 70’s
    • Establishment of Community Mental Health Centers (not a good fit when the deinstitutionalization began)
    • SSI
    • Subsidized Housing
    • Medicaid
    • Independent Living Movement

Failure of Deinstitutionalization

  • CMHC were poorly prepared to deal with Chronic MI
  • Poor training
  • Reliance on Psychodynamic approaches despite evidence of biological etiology
  • Institutionalize identity and behavior patterns
    • Functional deficits
    • Atypical or inappropriate behaviors
    • Extreme dependency

Psychosocial Rehabilitation as a Science/Profession

From it’s “humble” roots in the creative efforts of those first CMHC workers to the science of PSR and the profession of Psychiatric Rehabilitation the field has undergone a mercuric change

  • Science wants to “Describe”, “Explain”, “Predict” and “Control”…the science of PSR wishes to do this with each of the techniques it develops
  • Licensing of Professionals
    • Psychiatrist
    • Psychologist
    • LCSW, MSW, LSW
    • MHRT-I, MHRT-C
    • Registered Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (IAPSRS)

Psychosocial Rehabilitation and the Consent Decree

Click here to visit the official web page of the Consent Decree.

Links

Click here to review a history of Mental Illness

Click here to review a history of Independent Living


Assessment

Lesson 8 Discussion

Discuss ways in which the role of the MHRT/C has evolved from both the Independent Living and Civic Rights movement. How does the current philosophy of PSR align with these origins?