Optimal Well-Being After Psychopathology: Prevalence and Correlates

Abstract

Optimal functioning after psychopathology is understudied. We report the prevalence of optimal well-being (OWB) following recovery after depression, suicidal ideation, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Using a national Canadian sample ( N = 23,491), we operationalized OWB as absence of 12-month psychopathology, coupled with scoring above the 25th national percentile on psychological well-being and below the 25th percentile on disability measures. Compared with 24.1% of participants without a history of psychopathology, 9.8% of participants with a lifetime history of psychopathology met OWB. Adults with a history of substance use disorders (10.2%) and depression (7.1%) were the most likely to report OWB. Persons with anxiety (5.7%), suicidal ideation (5.0%), bipolar I (3.3%), and bipolar II (3.2%) were less likely to report OWB. Having a lifetime history of just one disorder increased the odds of OWB by a factor of 4.2 relative to having a lifetime history of multiple disorders. Although psychopathology substantially reduces the probability of OWB, many individuals with psychopathology attain OWB.

Tracing the origins of midlife despair: association of psychopathology during adolescence with a syndrome of despair-related maladies at midlife

“…Individuals with a more severe midlife despair syndrome also had more mental disorders as adolescents, and associations were not specific to any particular adolescent mental disorder or any particular subdomain of the midlife despair syndrome. Previous research suggests that psychopathology is associated with poorer health and diminished wellbeing later in life (Devendorf, Rum, Kashdan, & Rottenberg, 2022; Goodwin et al, 2009; Richmond-Rakerd, D'Souza, Milne, Caspi, & Moffitt, 2021; Scott et al, 2016). Our results extend previous findings in two ways.…”

Interventions in everyday life to improve mental health and reduce symptoms of psychiatric disorders.

“…Yet, we now need longitudinal work to identify the extent to which engaging in these activities reduces or delays the onset psychiatric disorders, reduces the severity of disorders, or prevents or delays the likelihood of relapse of an episodic mental disorder. Also, we know that many individuals with psychiatric disorders can be functioning well (Devendorf et al, 2022). Consequently, if engaging in physical activity or other activities has little or no impact on the onset of psychiatric disorders, it might still have palpable implications on daily functioning among those with disorders.…”