How treatment of persons with serious mental illness is portrayed in undergraduate psychology textbooks

Abstract

Information on treatment and rehabilitation approaches for persons with serious mental illness was examined in 28 introductory and 14 abnormal psychology textbooks. Both drug and hospital treatment received significantly more coverage than did community rehabilitation approaches in both types of texts. In introductory texts, community rehabilitation received no more coverage than lobotomy. Texts were also examined for their mention of 12 community rehabilitation approaches in current practice. Both types of texts gave a dated presentation of mental health services. However, description of community approaches in abnormal textbooks was more detailed and research-based than in introductory texts. It was hypothesized that textbook coverage mirrors the lack of psychiatric rehabilitation research reported in psychological journals.