Rehabilitation: Knowns and Unknowns

Reviews the book, Handbook of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practice edited by John K. Wing and Brenda Morris (1981). Although the quality of presentation varies across chapters, this book has several strengths. Wing and Morris define the concept of social disablement, describe the components of a rehabilitation program, and are strong advocates for rehabilitation of mentally ill patients. Unfortunately for the reader, however, the book has not been adequately edited. Generally, content has not been systematically organized across or within chapters, although specific authors are well organized and uniquely informative. The last significant criticism is the failure to present a clearly articulated and organized model of rehabilitation treatment. In summary, the strengths of the book are its advocacy of strong rehabilitation programs. Its limitations are inadequate editing, extensive repetition of critical points, failure to provide a clearly articulated integrated model of rehabilitation, and the absence of a defined treatment program for rehabilitation workers with a hands-on relationship to patients. Readers with interests and needs that draw on the book's strengths could use the related sections as resource materials. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)