The social paradigm in psychiatry as a link between social work and psychiatry in theory and practice

Abstract

Social paradigm in psychiatry serves to encompass the definition of an individual as a psycho-social being in this branch of medicine. The "social revolution" in psychiatry has sparked interest in social vectors affecting the aetiology of mental illnesses, as well as rehabilitation and treatment success among psychiatric patients. In line with numerous innovations introduced by the social model in psychiatry, social workers have been integrated into multidisciplinary teams working with psychiatric patients. The social model has underscored the need to view and process the socio-economic and interpersonal aspects of functioning among psychiatric patients, while the methods and theories of social work have become inevitable factors in planning activities directed towards prevention and treatment of mental illnesses. This paper analyses important characteristics of the social paradigm in psychiatry that has facilitated the process of drawing psychiatry and social work closer together. A comparison between practical implications of the three great paradigms in psychiatry is given, followed by an indication of theoretical specificities of social work that has enabled bidirectional interaction between the two related scientific areas. The paper provides an overview of activities that are seen as duties of social workers within multidisciplinary teams who work with psychiatric patients, and that represent a legacy of the convergence between social work and psychiatry.