Prescriptive rehabilitation for severely disabled psychiatric patients.

Several behavioral rehabilitation strategies have been empirically validated in the treatment of schizophrenia and are now the psychosocial treatments of choice for chronic mental disorders. The stress-vulnerability model and an empirically based decision tree offer clinicians' guidance in prescribing strategies that are particularly relevant for each patient. Hence, behavioral family therapy may be indicated for patients who experience disease exacerbation that results from stressful family interactions. Patients with insufficient social and coping skills may benefit from skills training. Supported employment and job-finding clubs may be indicated for patients with deficits in work skills. The form and programmatic matrix of these strategies differ, depending upon their locus in inpatient and outpatient settings.