Psychiatric rehabilitation (PSYR) and psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) are distinct helping approaches with many differences. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they are designed to address different features along the bio-psycho-social/cultural-environmental-spiritual continuum of care.

 

Psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) is designed to address the physical, social, and environmental domains through the housing, education, employment, and other social and life skills necessary to facilitate and maintain individual citizenship and community integration and contribution. PSR focuses on the physical capacity to engage and interact in the environments of choice as part of an overall attempt to improve the quality of life for people with mental health conditions. PSR practice is at the generalist/practitioner levels of skills acquisition in rehabilitation and recovery. PSR is a core component of PSYR. There are 7 essential competencies established by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA).

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1. Health & Wellness Support

2. Facilitating Recovery Strategies

3. Interpersonal Competencies 

4. Community Integration

5. Systems Competencies

6. Assessment, Planning, and Outcomes

7. Professional Role & Responsibilities

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Psychiatric rehabilitation (PSYR) is specifically designed to address cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation, and behavior management as part of skills-building, support, and interventions to improve the activities of daily living, individual independence, and total health and wellness. PSYR is advanced practice rehabilitation and recovery at the competent/professional levels of skills acquisition. There are 10 areas of competency in the national PSYR curriculum:

 

1. Care Theories and Practices

2. Health & Wellness Support

3. Facilitating Recovery Strategies

4. Mental/Behavioral Health

5. Interpersonal Competencies 

6. Community Integration

7. Systems Competencies

8. Assessment, Planning, and Outcomes

9. Professional Role & Responsibilities

10. Trauma Resolution

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In addition to the comparisons above, PSYR has a major advantage over PSR because certified PSYR specialists that are under clinical supervision may participate in disability determinations and developing the schedule A letter in certain states that recognize PSYR as a certified practitioner/professional. Psychiatric rehabilitation (PSYR) and psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) are related, but distinct in purpose and scope.