NATIONAL PLANNING FOR PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION

This article highlights on national planning for psychiatric rehabilitation. The biggest problem faced by army today is the psychiatric causalities of world war II. The group is growing daily and will exist for years after the war is over. Psychiatrists must face this and must start laying plans now for its ultimate solution. Interest exists throughout the country for an extensive psychiatric project. A survey by the Division of Rehabilitation of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene of the psychiatric resources of this country indicates that interest in rehabilitation exists, but activities are meager and scattered. There is a growing awareness that psychiatric casualties are returning in large numbers, but a survey of the individual states indicates ignorance as to the extent of the problem, confusion as to methods of meeting it, and a strong desire for specific help in planning. At present there are various national agencies concerned with rehabilitation. In addition, individual states have a variety of plans for the utilization of the recent Barden-LaFollette Bill establishing Federal rehabilitation services through the aegis of the Federal Security Administration. There are in all five national agencies, three veterans’ organizations, and eight state groups involved. The type of service needed has been clearly established by now. These men need a total psychiatric survey. In many cases they need intensive physical examinations to settle the uncertain somatic status before the psychiatrist can proceed with therapy. The psychologist fills a useful role in intelligence testing and aptitude evaluation. The social worker plays an invaluable role in obtaining information regarding the patient’s background and development, thereby enabling the psychiatrist to focus his time on the actual treatment situation. When finally the patient is ready for employment the placement officer also is drawn into the situation. This clearly calls for the integration of function of a variety of individuals, all of whom must be psychiatrically oriented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)