Promoting well-being in psychosis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, treatment of psychosis has focused on the amelioration of psychopathology and return to adequate functioning clinical recovery although there is growing recognition of the importance of subjective experiences associated with recovery personal recovery. Positive psychiatry extends the focus of psychiatric treatment to go beyond the reduction of psychiatric symptoms and and improvement of functional disability to promote the attainment of well-being. AIM: This article examined the conceptualization of well-being from the context of treatment for psychosis, its relationship with clinical recovery and highlighted some of challenges and implications for mental health services in promoting well-being. DISCUSSION: Recovery from psychosis is a complex and individual process, where well-being is more than just the absence of mental illness. Clinical and personal recovery processes may contribute to well-being although further longitudinal studies are required. A recent framework for understanding well-being in psychosis helps address the lack of consensus in this field. There is a considerable overlap between the indicators of well-being in this model and the CHIME framework for personal recovery. Thus, interventions targeting personal recovery processes may be a potential way to promote well-being. Current mental health services face a considerable challenge if they are to fulfill the dual role of reducing psychopathology and/or disability whilst concurrently addressing personal recovery to promote well-being. The attainment of well-being may not only be a desirable treatment goal in recovery-orientated mental health services but also a potential protective factor against serious mental illness.