CONTRIBUTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS TO INPATIENT CARE OF PERSONS WITH CHRONIC MENTAL-ILLNESS

Treatment of chronic mentally ill inpatients in public settings can be a difficult endeavor due to lack of adequate resources and Problems i n recruiting and retaining qualified staff. Psychologists can make a v aluable contribution in state mental hospitals, offering a range of se rvices that may be unknown to other disciplines. The authors describe seven areas in which clinical psychologists can facilitate quality pat ient care, including assessment psychotherapy and rehabilitation, beha vior modification, ward treatment programing student and staff trainin g, research, and administration. They also discuss ways to deal with c onflicts that develop between personnel from various mental health dis ciplines, such as those around issues of control, prescription privile ges for nonphysicians, and clinical decision making.