Work

The past and future of integrated biopsychosocial whole-health perspectives in psychiatric rehabilitation.

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This article describes the historical, contemporary, and probable future roles of biosystemic whole-health perspectives in the evolution of psychiatric rehabilitation. METHODS: We identify and discuss three examples of failures to fully consider the interaction of biological, psychological, and social levels of functioning, which have led to significant barriers to recovery: failure to account for physical morbidity in psychiatric disorders, lack of integration with modern understanding of inflammatory processes in psychiatric symptoms, and disregard for social and interpersonal factors. RESULTS: Significant limitations in rehabilitation outcomes arise from failure to fully consider the molar (i.e., integrated) implications of molecular impairments and vulnerabilities, and vice versa. We articulate the consequences of molecular models of personal and social functioning as barriers to future research and clinical care and propose looking beyond the traditional scope of psychopathology and boundaries of mental health services to reach a whole-health understanding of psychiatric disorder and disability, rehabilitation, and recovery. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The integrative biopsychosocial model is a particularly promising direction in the evolution of psychiatric rehabilitation, with strong clinical and theoretic implications that may guide much-needed change in policy and practice. Key to progress in our understanding of psychiatric disorder, disability, rehabilitation, and recovery is a perspective on science and clinical practice that values integration of multiple domains of knowledge as much as analytic dissection of molecular (i.e., unitary) processes. Reforms must be expected at all levels of health care service systems, in practitioner training, administration, and social policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

DOI: 10.1037/prj0000682

Authors: Rebecca Wolfe, Brianna Speakar, Mai Pham, Tierney Lorenz, William Spaulding

Institutions: University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: Mental Health and Patient Involvement

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Institutes of Health