Understanding and countering chronic processes with mental patients: An interpersonal model

A broad-focus model is presented for conceptualizing and treating chronic processes with psychiatric patients, integrating behavioral social-competence approaches and systemic-interactive ones. The events that originate and sustain dysfunctional behaviors involve a cycle of repetitive failure, rejection and hurt, self-isolation and segregation by others, mutual guilt and anger, psychiatric labeling, and giving up. The rehabilitation center in which the mapping of and training in social competences occurs serves as the context for systemic interactions that counter these chronic processes.