Predictors of Personal Recovery and Well-being in Bipolar Disorder

A mental health consumer movement induced a humanistic paradigm shift in mental health care, emphasizing personal recovery as opposed to clinical recovery only. Regarding bipolar disorder (BD), the high psychological strain and impairment calls for a way to enable the patients to attain personal recovery in order to lead a satisfying and meaningful life. The aim of this study was to extend current knowledge by identifying correlates of personal recovery and well-being. In a cross-sectional survey study, 119 participants with BD completed questionnaires assessing personal recovery and well-being as criterions. Sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables (response to positive affect & social role participation) were assessed as potential correlates. Per criterion, a block-wise multiple regression analysis was conducted. Better personal recovery and higher well-being were associated with shorter duration of treatment (PR: β = -.221, p < .05; WB: β = -.289, p < .05) and higher satisfaction with social role participation (PR: β = .411, p < .001; WB: β = .475, p < .001). Female gender was positively associated with well-being (β = .238, p < .05), but not with personal recovery. The assumed strong similarity between the concepts of personal recovery and well-being was substantiated by these findings.