Culture, control, and family involvement: A comparison of psychosocial rehabilitation in India and the United States

Research has shown better prognosis rates for people with psychiatric disabilities in developing countries than in Western countries. By comparing psychosocial rehabilitation in India and the United States, this paper explores how cultural beliefs and practices impact the recovery of people with psychiatric disabilities. In India, an emphasis on interdependence, externalized locus of control, and family involvement, are significant factors in caring for people with psychiatric disabilities. In contrast, rehabilitation goals in the United States focus upon independence and individual productivity. The paper examines the implications of these findings and the extent to which they can be applied across cultures.