A Systematic Review of Interventions in Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Background: Psychiatric rehabilitation has emerged as an important superspeciality of psychiatry in last few decades. There is a growing commitment to evidence-based practices in psychiatric rehabilitation. There is sufficient amount of literature, though not overwhelming, to have evidence based conclusions. Aims & Objectives: To do a systematic review of interventions available in psychiatric rehabilitation internationally as well as in India. To assess and compare the level of evidence of each interventions. Methods: Journal articles were identified through searches of the Pub Med, Medline and Psych INFO electronic databases from 1970 to 2014 with the search terms (Psychiatric rehabilitation services, recovery, evidence based, experience based, and chronic mental illnesses). Results: Evidence that people with mental illnesses can learn new skills is quiet strong. However, most of the interventions in psychiatric rehabilitation in India have level III – Level IV (non RCT studies) evidence unlike western studies which have level II – level III evidence. Conclusion: Psychosocial interventions as a part of psychiatric rehabilitation should be tailored according to the needs of the client and socio-cultural milieu of the community one lives in. At present, psychiatric rehabilitation interventions implemented in clinical practice are amalgamation of evidence-based practices and experience based practices.