Patient-Doctor as Team

The article “Reform Proposals Encourage Patients to Participate in Treatment Decisions” in the September 4 issue accurately identifies the promise of shared decision-making approaches in helping improve mental health care. Such tools enable consumers and their clinicians to make informed treatment decisions together. They represent a fundamental transformation and redesign of service delivery toward person-centered approaches that have been successfully implemented in other fields of medical care. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is developing and testing such tools. We look forward to working with psychiatrists and consumers to improve decision-support systems that enhance recovery.