Psychological Recovery

Retta Andresen is a Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Her research into the process of recovery and its measurement has received national and international recognition and interest. Lindsay Oades is a Clinical and Health Psychologist and Director of the Australian Institute of Business Wellbeing at the University of Wollongong, Australia. He has been awarded numerous national awards for his mental health research.Peter Caputi is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, Australia. He is a consulting editor for the Journal of Constructivist Psychology and The Journal of Psychology:  Interdisciplinary and Applied.

• About the authors xi Foreword by Jon Strang xiiiPreface xviiAcknowledgements xixPart I Recovery in Historical Context1 Introduction: Recovery from schizophrenia 3Overview 3Early conceptualizations of schizophrenia 4Diagnostic systems and prognostic pessimism 6Empirical evidence for recovery 7The persistence of a pessimistic prognosis 13The real possibility of recovery 17The emergence of the ‘recovery’ movement 18What do we mean by ‘recovery’? 20Conclusion 22Summary 222 Conceptualizing recovery: A consumer-oriented approach 23Overview 23Developing a consumer-oriented model of recovery 24The search for common ground 25Meanings of recovery in the literature 25Consumer descriptions – psychological recovery 28Diverse opinions on some aspects of recovery 31Four component processes of recovery 34A definition of psychological recovery 40Steps along the journey of recovery 41Five stages of psychological recovery 45Conclusion 45Summary 48Appendices 48Part II Elaboration of the Model: From Hopelessness to Flourishing3 Moratorium: The first stage of psychological recovery 53Overview 53Negative symptoms or psychological sequelae? 53Hope in the Moratorium stage: Hopelessness 54Responsibility in the Moratorium stage: Powerlessness 57Identity in the Moratorium stage: Loss of sense of self 59Meaning in the Moratorium stage: Loss of purpose in life 63Conclusion 65Summary 664 Awareness: The second stage of psychological recovery 67Overview 67Hope in the Awareness stage: The dawn of hope 67Responsibility in the Awareness stage: The need to take control 70Identity in the Awareness stage: I am not the illness 72Meaning in the Awareness stage: Need for a purpose in life 74Conclusion 76Summary 765 Preparation: The third stage of psychological recovery 77Overview 77Hope in the Preparation stage: Mobilizing resources 77Responsibility in the Preparation stage: Taking autonomous steps 79Identity in the Preparation stage: Taking an internal inventory 81Meaning in the Preparation stage: Reassessing goals 83Conclusion 85Summary 856 Rebuilding: The fourth stage of psychological recovery 87Overview 87Hard work and hopefulness 87Hope in the Rebuilding stage: Active pursuit of personal goals 88Responsibility in the Rebuilding stage: Taking control 90Identity in the Rebuilding stage: Self-redefinition 93Meaning in the Rebuilding stage: Valued goals 96Risk-taking, perseverance and resilience 99Conclusion 100Summary 1017 Growth: The fifth stage of psychological recovery 103Overview 103Hope in the Growth stage: Optimism about the future 103Responsibility in the Growth stage: In control of life and wellbeing 105Identity in the Growth stage: An authentic self 107Meaning in the Growth stage: Living a meaningful life 109Resilience, personal growth and wisdom 111Conclusion 113Retrospective overview 114Summary 1148 Common questions regarding the stage model of psychological recovery 115Overview 115Ten questions that have been raised about the model 115Conclusion 120Summary 120Part III Measuring Recovery9 Recovery-oriented outcome measurement 123Overview 123Why the need for measures of recovery? 123Approaches to operationalizing recovery in research 125Assessing outcomes in routine clinical practice 126Outcome measurement from the consumer perspective 127Measuring consumer-defined recovery 128Measures based on the stage model of psychological recovery 129Concluding comment 135Summary 135Part IV Towards a Positive Future10 Psychological recovery and positive psychology 139Overview 139A scientific approach to recovery 139Hope 140Meaning and purpose 140Responsibility 141Identity 142Resilience 142Strengths 143Values 143Autonomous goals 144Growth 144Wellbeing 145Living with illness and flourishing 145Summary 14611 Reflections and future directions 147From wellness to wellbeing 147Applications of the model 148Recovery measures in clinical work, evaluation and research 151Current and future research directions 152A word about words 153Afterword 155References 157Index 179

"This is an exciting and important book that is sure to stimulate dialogue and debate within the rapidly growing international recovery movement." (TMCnet.com, 5 December 2011)