Predictors of personal recovery for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders living in the community

Introduction: Personal recovery is a complex construct frequently used as outcome measure in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study examined potential predictors of personal recovery using the two most common assessment tools for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders living in the community: the Chinese version of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery and the Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale. Methods: Ninety-one individuals (57 women) diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders participated in the study (mean age: 47.41 ± 9.41 years). All participants lived in the community and received community psychiatric services. The participants were evaluated via interviews, questionnaires and standardized assessments. Potential predictors included four domains: personal, disease-related, functional and social. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to analyse the potential predictors of the recovery and recovery assessment scale. Results: Resilience and social support were the only significant predictors of the Chinese versions of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery and Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale. The primary predictor of the Chinese version of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery was social support from family and institutional staff. Conversely, resilience was the major predictor of the Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale. Discussion: For people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders living in the community, social support and resilience significantly predicted personal recovery. Age, educational level, disease-related and functional factors were not significant predictors of personal recovery. Therefore, it is important to develop successful personal recovery-oriented practices that enhance resilience and promote social support.