Rehabilitation Psychology: We Zigged When We Should Have Zagged

Rehabilitation psychology is more broadly based than we historically have acknowledged. Rehabilitation psychology should be viewed as the application of psychological constructs and principles to the care of individuals with chronic health conditions that are often, but not necessarily, disabling. In addition, the type of care provided by rehabilitation psychology constitutes a primary care psychology. Primary care psychology has a distinct focus on the care of individuals with chronic conditions. Four issues important to understanding rehabilitation psychology's development and future are reviewed: (a) the factors that have driven the growth of rehabilitation, (b) future trends that will shape the development of rehabilitation, (c) the implications of the emergence of "organized delivery systems" for rehabilitation, and (d) the visibility of rehabilitation psychology as a model for primary care psychology.