An Exploratory Study on the Recovery Process of Persons with Mental Disability and Attitudes towards Psychiatric Rehabilitation among Mental Health Professionals

Firstly, the investigator in-depth interviewed 22 persons with mental illness who experienced recovery to learn about their recovery outcome, recovery process, and the facilitators and barriers of recovery. Ten caregivers were also interviewed. In the second year, 15 subjects were interviewed again.

Secondly, during the second year this study implemented a survey of psychiatric professionals to understand their attitudes towards psychiatric rehabilitation. Study samples included professionals in hospitals (N=743) and in the rehabilitation agencies (N=136). Data were gathered through self-administrated questionnaire.

The results showed that 4 people in recovery were in the stage of “living beyond the disability”, 6 in the stage of “living with the disability” and 5 in the stage of “struggling with the disability”. The conducive factors included drug effectiveness, the inspiring and support from medical professionals, family support, the positive perspective and hardiness of people in recovery, effective coping methods, work induced confidence and social network, spiritual inspiration and caring from religious groups, and love relationship enriching quality of life and inducing sense of responsibility.

The results of analyses on survey of attitudes towards and performance on psychiatric rehabilitation principles showed that the major differences between the attitudes and performs lied on advocacy on social change, using environmental resources, and empowerment. For the hospital professional, the significant correlates of attitudes included: whether treatment plans including rehabilitation, attending related conferences, whether the mental health policy and regulations supporting rehabilitation, and doctors holding less positive attitude than OT.

Attitude was the most important correlate of performance, followed by age, doctor, whether discharge plans emphasizing rehabilitation, and reading related articles and books. The model could not significantly explain the variances on attitudes among the professionals in rehabilitation agencies. Holding positive attitude towards psychiatric rehabilitation, reading related articles and books, working as a case manager, the higher the level of performance.

Based on the results, the investigator calls for psychiatrics and heads of hospitals to include rehabilitation as a part of treatment and discharge plans, promoting the utilization of environmental resources, and assisting in the sustenance and advancing of family support.