Psychiatric Rehabilitation in Italy: Cinderella No More—The Contribution of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Technicians

Abstract

:In Italy, the skills needed to conduct psychosocial interventions properly have been complied in a specific mental-health academic and professional profile; this profile defines the professional competencies of the “psychiatric rehabilitation technician” (PRT). The PRT is an Italian mental health profile, created after the Italian psychiatric reform, called the “Law 180”, in 1978. Our article focuses on the history of the development of the specific professional profile of the PRT. The article also describes the rehabilitation staff in routine practice in Italy and Europe and gives some suggestions for further improving the mobility of such professionals in Europe.