OBJECTIVE:Education and employment play a crucial role in recovery from mental illness, offering purpose, structure, social connection, and financial independence. Nevertheless, many young people at clinical high risk for psychosis leave education early, underachieve academically, and face difficulties gaining employment. Evidence is limited on which interventions early detection services should implement to address these challenges. This qualitative study examined the acceptability of implementing individual placement and support (IPS), an approach that supports individuals with mental illness to pursue vocational goals, within Outreach and Support in South London, a well-established early detection service. METHODS:Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 clients and 13 clinicians following the intervention. Data were analyzed using framework analysis guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. RESULTS:The data mapped to five of the seven Theoretical Framework of Acceptability constructs (affective attitude, burden, ethicality, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy). The construct "opportunity costs" was not represented, while "intervention coherence" was relabeled as "integration of IPS within OASIS." An additional construct, "therapeutic relationship with IPS specialist" was also identified. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Findings indicated that IPS was highly acceptable to clients and clinicians, with both groups expressing a desire for it to be extended and established as a permanent part of Outreach and Support in South London. IPS may therefore offer a promising approach for addressing unmet vocational needs in early detection services. However, large-scale controlled trials are needed to establish its effectiveness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This was a quasiexperimental investigation of the effects of the Korean version of the Understanding Social Situations (USS) intervention on social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The Korean version was adapted from the USS intervention according to the Korean culture and research interests, making the first cultural adaptation of the program for Korean patients. METHOD:Forty-one individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were initially recruited, and 26 were assigned to either the intervention or conventional treatment condition. After the pretraining assessment, the intervention group underwent 8-10 weekly training sessions. Posttraining assessments were conducted in both groups within the same timeframe. RESULTS:The Korean version of the USS was found to be well tolerated. Large effects were observed for the USS Skills Training Test and theory of mind, whereas improvement in attributional style was not significant, possibly because of the limited sensitivity of the measure. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:The Korean version of USS showed good feasibility and potential as a culturally adapted intervention for improving higher level social cognition and as second-order theory of mind in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. These findings suggest that culturally adapted social cognitive interventions can be effectively implemented in Korean psychiatric rehabilitation settings. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials and additional modules are needed to target broader aspects of theory of mind and attributional style. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study examined demographic characteristics and vocational rehabilitation (VR) services associated with job retention, defined as maintaining employed status at VR case closure, among individuals with mental health conditions who were employed at the time of VR application. METHODS:A secondary analysis of the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report data set was conducted, combining Program Years 2022 and 2023. The analytic sample included 5,679 prime working-age adults (25-54) with mental health conditions who were employed at VR entry and received at least one service. Employment status at case closure (retained employment vs. not employed) was the dependent variable. Predictors included demographic and socioeconomic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, secondary disability, significant disability status, low-income status, Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance receipt, postsecondary education) and VR services received. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors across two steps. RESULTS:Overall, 59.4% of participants were employed at case closure. Having postsecondary education increased the chances of staying employed, while being low-income, having a secondary disability, or receiving Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance reduced those chances. Several VR services made a clear difference: Supported employment and short-term job supports had the strongest positive impact, followed by job placement assistance, maintenance support for basic needs, and transportation assistance. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Findings suggest that VR may benefit from placing greater emphasis on employment retention. Services that stabilize employment and address socioeconomic barriers improve retention. Counselors and policymakers should prioritize supported employment, short-term supports, and maintenance services while addressing systemic barriers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study analyzed data from a nationally representative survey of low-income U.S. veterans with and without histories of mental illness to describe their employment status and industry. METHODS:A total of 1,022 low-income veterans, including 117 with a history of mental illness, were analyzed. RESULTS:Of the total sample, 22% were employed, and 29% with a history of mental illness were employed. Among employed veterans, their most common industries were Education and Health Service (24%-26%) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (15%-20%). Among unemployed veterans, 31% screened positive for alcohol use problems and 24% screened positive for major depressive disorder compared to 9% and 15% of currently employed veterans, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Findings suggest that additional support for low-income veterans with mental illness in obtaining employment in different industries may help them increase their potential and reap the benefits of employment on mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supported employment increases competitive employment for people with disabilities. However, approximately one third of IPS participants in IPS studies do not obtain competitive employment; little is known about why they are unsuccessful. Standard demographic and clinical variables, other than work history, are not consistent predictors. We hypothesized that active participation in IPS services would predict successful employment. METHODS:In the Supported Employment Demonstration study, an IPS trial enrolling applicants recently denied Social Security disability, interviewers collected baseline demographic and clinical data. Thereafter, employment specialists administered the IPS participation measure monthly to a subsample of 620 IPS clients to track the number of IPS contacts, active participation in IPS job search, and competitive employment outcomes over 3 years. RESULTS:Among study enrollees assigned to IPS services (N = 620), 446 (72%) found jobs and 175 (28%) did not. Recent employment history, active participation in IPS job search, and months of IPS job search (p < .001) predicted employment outcomes in both standard bivariate and single-variable logistic regressions. Participation in IPS job search was, by a large margin, the strongest predictor of employment outcomes based on model coefficients of discrimination. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Denied disability applicants who were offered and participated actively in IPS supported employment had four times the odds of finding competitive employment as those who did not participate in job search. Active engagement in IPS, like recent employment history, may indicate motivation and explain why some people assigned to IPS treatment do not find jobs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Providers' partnership with families of adults with serious mental health and other behavioral health conditions can be a powerful recovery tool. Multiple barriers complicate family partnerships, and providers require training to overcome these obstacles. This article describes barriers to family partnerships, the state of available training in empirically based strategies, provider interest, and an accessible training initiative that can lay a foundation for bridging this gap. METHODS:A national online survey of 357 behavioral health professionals investigated their past training in working with families, perceived training needs, and preferred training methods. An online training module was developed to enhance provider exposure and experience, aimed at increasing knowledge, positive attitudes, and understanding of the skills required for family partnership. RESULTS:The survey found that regardless of clinical background, most providers reported interest in receiving training specifically related to working with families of adults with behavioral health conditions. Few reported having ever received any continuing education in this area. An online review confirmed that little such training is readily available. A pilot version of this training was conducted, with positive participant satisfaction evaluations and a significant number of providers participating in the course. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Increasing the availability of free, research-informed training offers opportunities for providers to begin enhancing the strategies necessary to partner with families successfully. Further development of training is needed to enhance the capacity of the workforce providing services to adults with behavioral health conditions to effectively include families, regardless of the specific intervention used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Throughout the course of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, individuals experience significant fluctuations in a variety of clinical and functional dimensions, often negatively impacting their quality of life (QoL). To better understand clinical correlates of QoL change and investigate treatment targets for future intervention development, this study sought to longitudinally examine the impact of symptom severity on QoL. METHOD:Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (N = 102) participated in an 18-month randomized trial of cognitive enhancement therapy. Measures of symptom severity and QoL were administered prior to treatment, and at 9- and 18-month timepoints. Symptom composite scores were generated and fitted using mixed-effects regression models to investigate the impact of changes in severity on QoL longitudinally. RESULTS:Unconditional growth models detected improvements in total and psychological QoL over time across treatment groups. Incorporation of covariates detected an interaction between social relationships, QoL change, and age at entry (18-49 range), indicating smaller QoL improvement over time for older individuals. Increased affective symptomatology was predictive of diminished total, physical, psychological, and social relationships QoL, while increased positive symptomatology was predictive of diminished social relationships and environmental QoL. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Affective symptomatology has been shown as a critical component of lasting QoL improvement. Implementing interventions that target affective symptoms in schizophrenia could prove effective in mitigating poor QoL, particularly in the early course of illness. Associations between positive symptomatology and environmental and social domains indicate that community-based services which integrate resource coordination and social support could prove efficacious in QoL improvement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study explores participants' insight and understanding of mental illness and related issues through their participation in a reading intervention that is framed by a dialogic approach to mental health. METHOD:A qualitative case study was conducted with 23 participants diagnosed with psychosis (six women and 17 men), divided into three groups. Each group participated in 18 sessions of dialogic reading over a period of 5 months, totaling 54 sessions. Data from session transcripts, in-depth group interviews, and focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis to examine the emerging dialogue content and participants' perceptions of their experience. RESULTS:Findings indicate that participants engaged in deep reflection on past experiences related to their illness, substance use, and gambling. Through their engagement in the intervention, individuals were able to identify early signs of illness and reconsider potential contributing factors. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE:Overall, the findings highlight the potential of dialogic spaces to foster insight and a more integrated self-concept, offering a valuable, participant-led tool for the narrative recovery of individuals with severe mental disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Financial independence, an important developmental milestone of emerging adulthood (ages 18-29), is critical to independent functioning in life. Examining whether financial independence in emerging adults with serious mental illness (SMI) is associated with self-stigma may inform ways to support achieving this milestone. Financial independence was investigated as a mediator between self-stigma and two of its harmful outcomes, lower self-esteem, and an increased "why try" effect. The "why try" effect was defined as a sense of futility about achieving life goals due to self-stigma. Self-stigma was expected to be associated with less financial independence, and less financial independence was expected to be related to reduced self-esteem and an increased "why try" effect. METHOD:Emerging adult community mental health center clients who had an SMI (n = 239) were recruited to complete an electronic survey. Path analysis was used to analyze data. RESULTS:Consistent with previous research, self-stigma was associated with decreased self-esteem and an increased "why try" effect. Financial independence was associated with higher self-esteem and, unexpectedly, with an increased "why try" effect. Contrary to past findings among adults, self-stigma was associated with increased financial independence. Two indirect associations through financial independence were observed between (a) self-stigma and self-esteem and (b) self-stigma and the "why try" effect. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Findings indicate that emerging adults with SMI may simultaneously experience self-stigma, financial independence, and the "why try" effect. Implications for psychiatric rehabilitation include increasing assistance with managing self-stigma among emerging adults with SMI pursuing financial independence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to assess internalized stigma and stigma coping strategies in Tunisian remitted individuals with bipolar disorder and to examine the role of potential mediators in the relationships between internalized stigma, stigma coping, and functioning. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted on Tunisian individuals with bipolar disorder in remission. Internalized stigma and stigma coping strategies were assessed through the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, Perceived Discrimination and Devaluation Scale, and Stigma Coping Orientation Scale. Participants' functioning, cognitive insight, self-esteem, and perceived social support were also evaluated. Multiple mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS:The study sample comprised 110 participants among whom 25.5% were experiencing internalized stigma. Alienation, social withdrawal, and reporting experiences of discrimination were the most elevated domains measured by the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale. Participants experiencing clinically significant internalized stigma were more likely to rely on avoidant coping strategies and less likely to engage in more active coping strategies. Perceived devaluation and discrimination significantly mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and functioning. Stigma coping strategies and cognitive insight did not significantly mediate this relationship. Cognitive insight, self-esteem, or perceived social support did not exhibit a significant effect on the relationship between internalized stigma and coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Internalized stigma experienced by individuals with bipolar disorder negatively impacts functioning through a heightened perception of discrimination and devaluation. Internalized stigma also exerts a direct and potent effect in shaping the stigma coping strategies that will be adopted by remitted individuals with bipolar disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study investigates individual and organizational factors influencing recovery-promoting competencies among mental health practitioners working with adults with serious mental illness, focusing on recovery knowledge, attitudes, organizational culture, and structure. METHODS:Using a cross-sectional design, an anonymous online survey was administered to 198 mental health practitioners across diverse U.S. SETTINGS:The survey measured practitioners' recovery-promoting competency, demographic characteristics, organizational culture, recovery-oriented structure, recovery knowledge, and recovery attitudes. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression guided by social ecological model. RESULTS:Recovery knowledge (β = 0.304, p < .001), recovery attitudes (β = 0.379, p < .001), supportive organizational culture (β = 0.123, p = .042), and recovery-oriented administrative structure (β = 0.200, p = .002) significantly predicted recovery-promoting competency. Male practitioners reported lower competencies than female (β = -0.131, p = .019), while those with doctoral degrees reported higher competencies than those with bachelor's degrees (β = 0.146, p = .034). The final model explained 69.9% of variance. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Study shows fostering recovery-promoting competency requires both individual development and organizational support. Enhancing recovery knowledge and attitudes through targeted education may be particularly effective. However, training must be supported by recovery-oriented organizational context that reinforces these values through culture, structures, and operations. A supportive environment can empower practitioners to implement recovery principles. Findings highlight the need for coordinated multilevel strategies to strengthen recovery-oriented practice across diverse service settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This mixed-methods study evaluated a pilot peer specialist intervention designed to reduce suicide risk in high-risk veterans with severe psychiatric disabilities. METHOD:Veterans with high-risk flags for suicide (n = 12) were recruited, and peer specialists (PSs, n = 5) were trained for a feasibility study of peers for valued living, a 3-month semistructured suicide prevention intervention delivered by PSs. The Reliable Change Index was used to calculate whether veterans achieved reliable changes on standardized baseline-to-posttest assessments of personal recovery, depression, suicide ideation, perceived burden and thwarted belongingness, suicide cognitions, and hopefulness. Qualitative interviews with veterans as well as PSs and their supervisors were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis. RESULTS:Most veterans (n = 10, 83.3%) improved on at least one measure, and five veterans (41.7%) deteriorated in at least one area. Reliable improvements were most common in suicide cognitions (n = 5, 41.7%) and suicidal ideation (n = 4, 33.3%). Qualitative analyses indicated that veterans uniformly described positive experiences with peers for valued living. PSs and supervisors were initially uneasy about openly discussing suicide and struggled to adopt the semistructured discussion framework. But with time, they felt more confident and skilled in engaging with high-risk veterans. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:This mixed-methods pilot study establishes the feasibility and preliminary effects of a peer-delivered suicide prevention intervention with veterans with high-risk flags for suicide. Reliable positive changes were observed in suicidal ideation and other suicide cognitions. Qualitative interviews identified a range of important factors that are critical to efforts to employ PSs more directly in suicide prevention roles. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This article describes the historical, contemporary, and probable future roles of biosystemic whole-health perspectives in the evolution of psychiatric rehabilitation. METHODS:We identify and discuss three examples of failures to fully consider the interaction of biological, psychological, and social levels of functioning, which have led to significant barriers to recovery: failure to account for physical morbidity in psychiatric disorders, lack of integration with modern understanding of inflammatory processes in psychiatric symptoms, and disregard for social and interpersonal factors. RESULTS:Significant limitations in rehabilitation outcomes arise from failure to fully consider the molar (i.e., integrated) implications of molecular impairments and vulnerabilities, and vice versa. We articulate the consequences of molecular models of personal and social functioning as barriers to future research and clinical care and propose looking beyond the traditional scope of psychopathology and boundaries of mental health services to reach a whole-health understanding of psychiatric disorder and disability, rehabilitation, and recovery. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:The integrative biopsychosocial model is a particularly promising direction in the evolution of psychiatric rehabilitation, with strong clinical and theoretic implications that may guide much-needed change in policy and practice. Key to progress in our understanding of psychiatric disorder, disability, rehabilitation, and recovery is a perspective on science and clinical practice that values integration of multiple domains of knowledge as much as analytic dissection of molecular (i.e., unitary) processes. Reforms must be expected at all levels of health care service systems, in practitioner training, administration, and social policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Objective: Difficulties in social interactions are a core characteristic of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. They are often linked to impairments in social cognition, including emotion recognition, social perception, theory of mind, and attributional style. The RC2S program (cognitive remediation of social cognition) aims to address these deficits through individualized interventions. This study is the first controlled randomized trial to compare RC2S with RECOS (Remédiation Cognitive pour la Schizophrénie ou un trouble associé), a neurocognitive remediation program, to evaluate their respective impacts. Method: Fifty-one outpatients with schizophrenia were randomized into RC2S (n = 25) or RECOS (n = 26) groups. The primary outcome was a measure of attributional biases, with secondary outcomes including symptom severity, social functioning, and cognitive measures. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T1), posttreatment (T2), and 3 month follow-up (T3). Results: Both groups improved significantly in social cognition and neurocognition, with no overall between-group differences. Yet only the RC2S group showed a significant reduction in hostile attribution bias from T1 to T2, a domain where many social cognitive trainings falter. RC2S also produced faster gains in negative symptoms and one area of social functioning. RECOS showed stronger effects on positive symptoms and certain neurocognitive measures. Both programs enhanced functional outcomes, though the trajectories of change differed. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: While the results highlight RC2S's potential, the small sample size, high dropout rate, and low baseline levels of hostility bias limit the generalizability and interpretability of these findings. Future research should refine RC2S, use more sensitive assessments, and explore broader applications. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Peer support services are proliferating for young adults (YA) with serious mental health conditions. Psychiatric rehabilitation services continue to develop and launch these programs nationally and globally. This conceptual article builds upon principles from peer support and trauma-informed care and shares lessons from the field to advance a trauma-informed peer support framework for YA mental health. METHOD:Informed by the literature, three YA mental health interventions, and a series of iterative team consensus-building meetings, we identified pillars of a trauma-informed peer support for young adults (TIPS-YA) framework to focus research and practice in psychiatric rehabilitation as peer support programs continue to emerge in many YA service contexts. RESULTS:TIPS-YA includes four pillars: (a) safety, (b) mutuality, (c) empowerment and voice, and (d) context. Each is a fundamental area for developing and providing peer support services. Yet, no previous training or conceptualization of peer support includes all aspects of these four critical areas. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Peer support for YAs needs distinct consideration in psychiatric rehabilitation. YA services must bridge the developmental period between youth and adulthood, and offer unique supports. TIPS-YA offers a starting point to develop and implement program models that embed peer supporters, and to advance the science of peer support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Psychiatric rehabilitation services (PRS) were developed to facilitate recovery and community integration by addressing psychosocial needs such as housing, employment, illness management, and social inclusion for individuals with serious mental illness. However, PRS are primarily designed for and available in community settings. The objective of this conceptual article is to explore the potential role of PRS during inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and offer a forward-looking vision, identifying trends to guide future efforts. METHOD:This article presents a conceptual analysis of the potential benefits and impacts of PRS on the recovery process of individuals with serious mental illness if these services were also provided during hospitalization. This critical analysis was coauthored by various stakeholders, including individuals with lived experience, psychiatric, and other mental health providers, and psychiatric rehabilitation researchers. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Integrating PRS into routine care during psychiatric hospitalization supports recovery and facilitates postdischarge community connections and outcomes. While PRS were originally conceptualized and designed for community settings, efforts should be made to tailor and adapt them for use in inpatient settings. Shifting staff attitudes toward inpatient recovery-oriented care, developing interventions and training for PRS integration, and securing leadership and institutional buy-in are the next practical steps to make this vision a reality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Anthony (1993) proposed recovery as the organizing principle of the public mental health service system. This study examines the evolution of a recovery-oriented mental health system at the federal and state levels in the United States. METHODS:A rapid review of gray literature analyzed federal policy statements, state mental health policies, service reforms, mental health authority reports, websites, organizational records, and other public documents. The review compiled current recovery-oriented system features in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. RESULTS:Findings highlight expansive but stalled transformation to a recovery-oriented system. Policy statements have made a pronounced shift toward recovery. More recovery-oriented services are being offered. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's uniform reporting system, many outcomes have improved modestly. However, many features of a recovery orientation have not been fully embraced, implemented, and sustained. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Official statements about recovery exist. Practices such as peer services are available in many states, yet the full actualization of a recovery approach remains unfulfilled. Most states would benefit from a concerted effort to fulfill their recovery visions by specifying the features of a recovery-oriented system that they currently lack and aspire to implement. Current implementation science can inform these efforts, including performance-focused, state-level evaluations using common measures tracked on a national dashboard. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Comments on an article by S. W. Schrader et al. (see record 2026-54463-001). Schrader et al. recently reported on VA programs for veterans in early stages of recovery from substance use disorder (SUD), finding that 78% of 78 veterans elected to receive therapeutic work activity, which has a primary goal of clinical recovery rather than employment, and only 22% selected programs focusing on competitive employment. Three possible interpretations may explain Schrader et al.'s anomalous finding and deserve further research. They are discussed in the current commentary. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Vocational research requires standardized measures of employment outcomes. Yet studies vary widely in how they define measures used to assess employment outcomes. This article makes recommendations for a core outcome package of objective measures of competitive employment suitable for vocational research. METHODS:We identified seven criteria for assessing the utility of an employment measure: widely used, reliable, simple to collect, easily understood, demonstrates criterion validity, sensitive to change, and relevant to multiple groups with vested interests. We then conducted a selective review of employment measures found in published studies, using these criteria to evaluate a range of objective employment measures within a conceptual framework consisting of six domains: job acquisition, amount of time employed, employment earnings, time commitment to employment, consistency of employment, and job stability. Results: Based on our review, we recommend three primary outcomes (competitive employment rate, total time worked, and total employment earnings) and eight descriptive outcomes for inclusion in a core outcome package. To ensure standardization, we provide explicit definitions for each measure. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Adoption of a core outcome package will (a) provide guidance to researchers planning new studies, (b) provide a common set of measures permitting direct comparisons between studies, and (c) facilitate meta-analytic reviews by using common metrics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of Think and Cope Positively, a structured 15-session program designed to enhance well-being in adults diagnosed with severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. METHODS:Twenty-six participants were recruited through mental health services, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, protocol compliance, session attendance, and satisfaction were assessed. Intervention outcomes, including hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, optimism, therapeutic alliance, and psychological symptoms, were measured both before and after the intervention. RESULTS:Of the 26 participants, 20 completed the program (77%), attending an average of 14 out of 15 sessions. Both participants and facilitators reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. Statistically significant improvements in well-being, optimism, and therapeutic engagement were observed following the program. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:These findings indicate that Think and Cope Positively is a feasible and acceptable intervention to enhance well-being in individuals with severe mental health conditions. It provides a promising addition to existing psychosocial rehabilitation strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
