SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING SERIOUS MENTAL-ILLNESS

This article discusses the significant transformation that is occurrin g in conceptualizing serious mental illness (SMI) and its treatment. T hree key areas of that transformation are discussed: a change from a p athology perspective of people, their dysfunction, and treatment to a competence perspective; new ways of understanding the relationship bet ween biology and human experience; and changes in the notions of causa lity in SMI. Significant advances are also occurring in the developmen t of empirically validated pharmacological and psychosocial interventi ons, in the identification of the critical components of an effective service delivery system, and in the discovery of significant recovery rates for people with SMI. Finally, some implications for psychologist s' practitioner roles, for public-private partnerships in organized he alth care systems, and for the role of state psychological association s are noted.