Illness management and recovery program for mental health problems: reducing symptoms and increasing social functioning

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Illness Management and Recovery Program in comparison with the current standard of care in terms of reduction of symptoms, rehospitalisation rates and social functioning in Asia.

Background: Focus of treatment for Mental Health had been shifted from mere management of symptoms to that of achievement of recovery. In the recovery process, strategies to achieve higher level of functioning were used (Psychiatric Services 2014, 65, 171). However, two main factors hindered clients from attaining recovery: first, the lack of Mental Health resources in the community and second the negative attitudes of healthcare professionals towards mental illness (American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation 2012, 15, 131). Hence, it is essential to implement an effective programme that will train mental health professionals to use more effective techniques and materials in helping the clients to better integrate into society by achieving skills in their attempt to work towards recovery.

Design: This study adopts a time series experimental quantitative design.

Methods: Fifty participants who consented to the study were randomly assigned to two groups. Participants in the experimental group received the experimental management and recovery programme, while the control group received standard care management by the community psychiatric nurses for a period of 12 months.

Results: Participants in the experimental group reported significantly lower number of admissions, shorter length of stay, lower Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores, and also reported significantly higher scores on both the Illness Management and Recovery Scale and the Global Assessment Scale.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the effectiveness of IMR in helping Asian people with mental illness to not only reduce symptoms and hospitalisations but also improve social functioning. They have benefitted from the program although they are living in a different cultural setting from where IMR was developed.

Relevance to clinical practice: The success of this study has raised the standard of care in the community intervention and led more people to their recovery.

Keywords: community psychiatric nursing; illness management and recovery; mental health.