The Knowledge Resource Base: beginning the dialogue.

Abstract

The Knowledge Resource Base (KRB) is a conceptual approach to the various types of knowledge used to understand and make sense of mental illness. It is an attempt to go beyond the everyday notion that real knowledge is in the hands of clinical experts and that consumers/survivors, families, and the public have little to contribute. There are four components to the KRB, each of which represents a different perspective or type of knowledge about mental illness; medical/clinical, social scientific, experiential, and customary/traditional. The purpose of this paper is to explore the medical/clinical and experiential components of the KRB by initiating a dialogue between consumers/survivors, families, and mental health professionals regarding these components. The strengths and weaknesses of each component are identified through individual interviews and a focus group.