Psychosocial rehabilitation is currently one of the leading approaches of caring for people with emotional disability and is currently gaining wide-ranging acceptance. Despite its rapid expansion, articulation of the model lacks an organized body of knowledge and, consequently, "psychosocial rehabilitation" has become a euphemism for numerous and often unrelated methods of care. In this paper, based on extensive literature review, a list of major psychosocial rehabilitation principles is presented. The aim is to attempt to more closely distinguish the boundaries of the psychosocial rehabilitation model in order to contribute to and to enhance exchangeof ideas in this field.

In two recent papers, Cnaan et al 1988Cnaan et al , 1989 identified fifteen principles that define the basis of psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR). These principles were based on a thorough literature review but were not validated or assessed in any other way. In this study, the fifteen principles were operationalized and presented to a group of experts to assess the principles' relevance and relative importance in psychosocial rehabilitation. By utilizing factor analysis, the authors were able to support 13 of the 15 principles. By utilizing multiple comparisons, they ordered these 13 principles into 3 groups according to their relative importance.

In recent years, a distinct subgroup of homeless persons, the dually diagnosed, has emerged. This group evidences both severe mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse. According to the experience of a large mental health agency, the engagement phase is the critical phase for the provision and acceptance of care. This article utilizes the symbolic-interaction approach as a framework to explain and guide encounters of outreach workers with dually diagnosed homeless persons. Case examples are presented and practice recommendations are discussed.

Psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) is gaining in public recognition and is growing in acceptance and utilization by professionals. However, the field lacks an overarching guiding theory. Based on principles of PSR defined in a previous paper (Cnaan, Blankertz, Messinger, & Gardner, 1988), the authors attempt to link PSR with various theories and more established practice modalities. The most promising theoretical approach studied is the "ecosystems perspective," while several other theories and practice modalities provide additional relevant theoretical support for PSR.