Recovery attitudes questionnaire: Development and evaluation

A questionnaire to assess attitudes toward recovery from psychiatric disorders was developed in conjunction with consumers from the Hamilton County Recovery Initiative. People with mental disorders, family members, professionals and others were surveyed and 844 completed questionnaires constituted the final sample. This study reports the development and analysis of the questionnaire. The original 21 item scale was reduced to 7 items loading on two factors: Factor 1 "Recovery is possible and needs faith, " Factor 5 "Recovery is difficult and differs amoung people". II Differences in attitudes were found among professionals, people with mental disorders, family members, and others, The questionnaire can be used to help assess feelings about recovery and possibly determine for whom services focusing on advocacy and self-help might be more efficacious Ban traditional mental heath services.