Are recovery and quality of life different outcome measures for community-based psychosocial program?

This research study aims to explore the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and recovery in mental illness in a community-based psychosocial program. By adopting a prospective, naturalistic, longitudinal follow-up research design, a cohort of 87 consumers who were discharged from mental hospitals and participated in a community-based psychosocial program were followed for one year. QoL and recovery of these individuals were assessed at baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow up assessments. At the 12-month follow up, this cohort of participants showed improvement in QoL and achieved a recovery rate of 8%. ANOVA analysis indicated that overall QoL was not related to recovery. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis showed that overall QoL was predicted significantly by self-efficacy at baseline, improvement in self-efficacy and improvement in functioning (adjusted R² = 22.8; F(3,81) = 9.272, p < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that recovery was significantly predicted by baseline functioning level and improvement in open employment (Nagelkerke R²: 36.7, Model χ² = 13.214, p < .001). Therefore, overall QoL and recovery were predicted by different factors. These results indicate that recovery and QoL should be conceptualized as two different outcome measures. Community-based psychosocial programs should include both recovery and QoL as outcome measures and adopt different strategies to facilitate recovery and QoL for consumers.