Patrick Kennedy Positions Mental Illness as Chronic Disease, With Relapse Possible

In his interview with THE WASHINGTON POST, Patrick Kennedy positioned mental illness as a chronic disease, which has the possibility of relapse.  He made it clear that there is no "cure." 

This way of framing mental disease could make it more difficult for those in prison and hospitals for the criminally insane to obtain parole.  If it's accepted that relapse is possible then no one can guarantee that the inmates will be able to comport themselves as law-abiding citizens. 

The reality is that science still knows so little about mental illness.  Kennedy has started a foundation One Mind for Research which could change that.