Resilience and Recovery in the Context of Psychological Disorders

Objective: This study aims to elucidate the similarities and differences between the concept of resilience and of recovery and build an argument for the integration of these two concepts. Method: A review of the literature on resilience and recovery was conducted. An electronic search of PsychInfo, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost databases was performed to identify relevant peer-reviewed studies. Results: A total of 53 articles on resilience, 29 articles on recovery, and 2 articles that covered both topics were reviewed and analyzed. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: In the field of mental health, resilience and recovery have several factors in common such as the occurrence of adversity and the use of internal strengths and environmental resources to achieve greater subjective well-being. In view of these similarities, we propose that resilience and recovery are different constructs which converge in the recovery journey. We provide theoretical and empirical evidence to support this proposition. Interventions promoting resilience could help people with a psychological disorder not only adapt positively to adversities but also reduce the impact of life stressors on the clinical and personal recovery process, thereby more effectively improving mental health outcomes.