PsychiatricRehabilitationToday
Dear Colleagues,
Regarding the long-term Outcomes in Schizophrenia, the management was addressing Pre-I960s Improve self-care, reduce aggression, and reduce self- injury. between 1960· 70s to "survive" out of hospital and deinstitutionalization, in 1980s reduce relapse and minimize positive symptoms, while in 1990s increase "stable" periods and minimize negative symptoms, in 2000 and after that it was focusing on functionality and potential for remission i.e. rehabilitation.
Functional recovery lags behind symptomatic improvement, only 5% of research mentions functional recovery. Many new scales for assessment have been developed, for functional recovery rehabilitation''. The goal of psychiatric rehabilitation is to help individuals with persistent and serious mental illness to develop the emotional, social and intellectual skills needed to live, learn and work in the community with the least amount of professional support.
Enabling persons with persistent and serious mental illness to live a normal life in the community causes a shift away from a focus on an illness model towards a model of functional disability Therefore, other outcome measures apart from clinical conditions become relevant, especially social role functioning - including social relationships, work and leisure as well as quality of life and family burden - is of major interest for the mentally disabled individuals living in the community.
The overall philosophy of psychiatric rehabilitation in mental disorders comprises two intervention strategies. The first strategy is Individual-centered and aims at developing the patient's skills in interacting with a stressful environment. The second strategy is ecological and directed towards developing environmental resources to reduce potential stressors. Most disabled persons need a combination of both approaches, Symptom control does not necessarily have the highest priority, as some side effects of pharmacological treatment can weaken a person's ability to perform his or her social roles. and impair vocational rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation program should start right from the first time the patient has come into contact with a mental health professional. A clinician waiting to start rehabilitation after the patient becomes asymptomatic, may not benefit the patient or the family in the long run.
Once the aim of psychiatric treatment is improving quality of life. the shift and emphasis of the future will be towards rehabilitation not as adjunct to pharmacotherapy but as a necessity.
Welcome to the first Abu Dhabi International Congress of World Association for Psychological Rehabilitation.
Prof. Ahmed Okasha
Honorary President of the Congress
MD., PhD, F.R.C.P., F.R.C., Psych., F.A.C.P (Hon.)
Founder, Professor and Emeritus Chairman
Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University
President World Psychiatric Association (2002-2005)
Hon. President Egyptian Psychiatric Association
Hon. President Arab Federation of Psychiatrist
Member of the Egyptian Presidential Advisory Council of Distinguished Scientist
