An overview of the clubhouse model of psychiatric rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the clubhouse model and its capacity to assist people with severe mental illness.

METHOD

The paper uses a sample vignette (with all identifying information removed) and survey of literature describing clubhouses over the last 15 years.

RESULTS

Strengths of the clubhouse model include its ability to provide a safe environment, supportive relationships and supported employment activities. Criticisms include its failure to provide onsite psychiatry clinics and a risk of promoting service dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

Modern clubhouses continue to provide useful models of psychiatric rehabilitation which are popular worldwide. Studying and describing the model is challenging due to its complexity. Mixed methodological approaches and recovery-orientated measurement tools may assist future research and development.