Politics advocate the integration of patients in decision making processes as a means of individual participation. Patients' participation in research projects is a next step to fulfil this democratic goal.Concepts essential for rehabilitation are introduced that are germane in the context of participatory rehabilitation research. They are based on the results of 2 workshops where researchers, patients and those working in the field developed ideas for patients' participation in research and on a screening of relevant literature. Research traditions relevant for rehabilitation research are lined out, a stage model allowing design and documentation of patient participation is introduced, and recommendations for practice are given. The article ends with a list of open questions that need to be addressed in the future.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.