66 Chapter 4 ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between change in symptom severity and personal recovery in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). 49 outpatients at Mentrum/Arkin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, were assessed at baseline and three years later, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Mental Health Recovery Measure. Correlation coefficients and linear regression analyses were used. Further, the impact of severity of symptoms at baseline on change in personal recovery was evaluated. Results show that change in symptom severity explained 31.8% of the variance of change in personal recovery. Change in depression/anxiety explained 27.3% of the variance of change in personal recovery. Higher affective symptom severity at baseline significantly predicted positive change in personal recovery. In conclusion, besides change in symptom severity, also other potential determinants of personal recovery should be addressed in treatment of patients with SMI, e.g. self-esteem and social functioning. Treatment of depression/anxiety symptoms may increase personal recovery.
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