Facilitating Recovery for People With Serious Mental Illness Employing a Psychobiosocial Model of Care

After many decades of stigmatization within society, coupled with inadequate care in mental hospitals and outpatient settings, individuals with serious mental illness are now able to hope for competent care and meaningful lives because of the current acceptance of the recovery model of treatment. The recovery model presumes that, with appropriate psychotropic intervention and evidence-based treatment, those with serious mental illness can manage symptoms, learn needed skills, and assume meaningful roles within their communities. Application of the recovery model requires a cadre of professionals skilled in psychopharmacology and evidence-based approaches who can reach this population with respect, as well as compassion and understanding. It is posited in this article that psychologists, and in particular prescribing psychologists, who are well grounded in the biological as well as psychological and social foundations of behavior are successfully providing care toward recovery for this population by adopting a psychobiosocial orientation in which the patient's needs, feelings, and preferences are central to all interventions. The principles of the Psychobiosocial Model of Care are outlined with case study application to demonstrate how the training of psychologists is consonant with the recovery paradigm and can offer a unique psychological approach to mental health care.