Discrepancy between experience and importance of recovery components in the symptomatic and recovery perceptions of people with severe mental disorders

Abstract

Background: Personal recovery has become an increasingly important approach in the care of people with severe mental disorders and consequently in the orientation of mental health services. The objective of this study was to assess the personal recovery process in people using mental health services, and to clarify the role of variables such as symptomatology, self-stigma, sociodemographic and treatment. Methods: Standardised measures of personal recovery process, clinical recovery, and internalized stigma were completed by a sample of 312 participants in a Severe Mental Disorder program. Results: Users valued most the recovery elements of: improving general health and wellness; having professionals who care; hope; and sense of meaning in life. Significant discrepancies between perceived experience and relative importance assigned to each of the components of the REE were observed. Regression modeling (χ2 = 6.72, p =.394; GFI =.99, SRMR =.03) identified how positive discrepancies were associated with a higher presence of recovery markers (β =.12, p =.05), which in turn were negatively related to the derived symptomatology index (β = −.33, p