Therapeutic communities and mental health system reform.
OBJECTIVE
The contemporary relevance of therapeutic communities as a treatment modality in mental health is described.


METHODS
This paper builds upon on a qualitative study to provide a case illustration of a working therapeutic community for persons with serious mental illness.


METHODS
The data are seventeen interviews conducted with staff and residents and observations carried out during four days of field work by the research team.


CONCLUSIONS
Studies are needed to determine whether therapeutic communities strengthen consumer capacity for social integration and thus contribute to empowerment and the larger recovery agenda.
Dickey
Barbara
B
Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA. barbara_dickey@hms.harvard.edu
Ware
Norma C
NC
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003289:Convalescence; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008404:Massachusetts; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013808:Therapeutic Community