Recovery Assessment Scale: Testing validity with Portuguese community-based mental health organization users.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to develop the Portuguese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS-P), and to assess the validity of the findings using the revised test, with 213 users from 5 nonprofit community-based mental health organizations. Participants in the assessment completed a self-reported survey investigating their sense of personal recovery, personal empowerment, capabilities achievement, psychiatric symptoms' frequency, and demographic data. Evidence from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using the 24-item version of the test, validated a 4-factor structure for the RAS-P model based on the dimensions of Personal Goals and Hope, Managing Help Needs, Supportive Interpersonal Relationships, and Life Beyond Symptoms, consistent with components of the recovery process. Convergent and discriminant validity was also achieved using bivariate correlation coefficients among the 4 subscales' scores, between the overall scale and the subscales, and in relation to external variables. Findings allowed for the interpretation that the RAS-P is measuring a particular psychological construct, which is different from symptoms of the mental illness. A hypothesized significant association with personal empowerment and with capabilities achievement was demonstrated. Positive association was also found between participants' use of recovery-oriented services such as independent housing or supported employment programs. The RAS-P scores also revealed excellent internal consistency for the overall scale (␣ ϭ .90), and good consistency for the subscales (Ͼ.75), which attest to its precision in measurement. In conclusion, the study proved the RAS-P a reliable and useful tool in the context of the community mental health practice.

Recovery assessment scale: Examining the factor structure of the German version (RAS-G) in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

“…Notably, a substantial overlap between the items that originally made up the PCH and GSO factors -including the loading of the two items mentioned above on the PCH instead of the GSO factor -was also reported in other studies exploring the factor structure of the RAS in Japanese [41], Portuguese [46], and American [47] samples. Furthermore, inspecting the four factor solutions [45][46][47], it emerges that they primarily resulted from a convergence of the PCH and GSO factors. Thus, while the third factor, Willingness to Ask for Help (WAH), forth factor, Reliance on Others (RO), and fifth factor, No Domination by Symptoms (NDS), seem to be solidly replicated, respondents may perceive hope, selfconfidence, and goal and success orientation as more closely associated.…”

“…Comparing the factor structure of the RAS-G with previous studies examining the factor structure of the RAS, we found that, out of ten studies in total, seven studies reported a five-factor [22,[40][41][42][43][44], and three studies a four-factor structure [45][46][47]. Notably, a substantial overlap between the items that originally made up the PCH and GSO factors -including the loading of the two items mentioned above on the PCH instead of the GSO factor -was also reported in other studies exploring the factor structure of the RAS in Japanese [41], Portuguese [46], and American [47] samples. Furthermore, inspecting the four factor solutions [45][46][47], it emerges that they primarily resulted from a convergence of the PCH and GSO factors.…”

Recovery and serious mental illness: a review of current clinical and research paradigms and future directions

“…The scale consists of 41 items, providing a total score as well as five subscales thought to reflect elements of subjective recovery: personal confidence and hope, willingness to ask for help, goal and success orientation, reliance on others, and no domination by symptoms [53]. Acceptable reliability and validity have been reported [53][54][55] [58] and it has been translated and studied in many languages, including Japanese [56], Chinese [59], and Portuguese [60].…”

Adaptation of Nussbaum's Capabilities Framework to Community Mental Health: A Consumer‐Based Capabilities Measure

“…The Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS) was originally developed by Corrigan, Salzer, Ralph, Sangster and Keck () and further validated in the Portuguese context (Jorge‐Monteiro & Ornelas, ). The 24‐item scale has a four‐factor structure including Personal Goals and Hope (11 items), Managing Help Needs (three items), Supportive Interpersonal Relationships (four items), and Beyond Symptoms (six items).…”