A community study of persons using psychiatric services was conducted, with a conclusion that overall quality of improvement and recovery is best characterized as an incremental, yet definitively discernable, subjective process.

Jenkins, J.H., Strauss, M. E., Carpenter, E. A. et al. (2005). Subjective Experience of Recovery from Schizophrenia-related disorders and Atypical Antipsychotics. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 51(3), 211-227.

This article analyzes interview and survey data collected during the course of the MindFreedom International Oral History Project from June through September, 2001 and reveals four major themes emerging from these histories.

Cohen, Oryx. (2005). How Do We Recover? An Analysis of Psychiatric Survivor Oral Histories. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 45(3), 333-354.

This study analyzed recovery from stress as a process of self-regulation. Several individual difference variables which affect the efficiency of self-regulation are integrated into a structured model of the recovery process.

Beckman, Jorgen & Kellerman, Michael. (2004). Self-Regulation and Recovery: Approaching an Understanding of the Process of Recovery from Stress. Psychological Reports.

This paper discusses the process of recovery, offering suggestions on how clinicians and the system can help support the process. Also discussed is the importance of using setbacks as learning opportunities and the need to embrace the humanity of people in recovery.

Townsend, Wilma & Glasser, Nicole. (2003). Recovery: The Heart and Soul of Treatment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 27(1), 83-86.

This paper is the first in a series that examines recovery processes that may account for significant improvements in the quality of life and related factors of members who have serious mental illness.

Corrigan, P.W., Calabrese, J.D., Diwan, S.E., Keogh, C.B., et al. (2002). Some recovery processes in mutual-help groups for persons with mental illness, I: Qualitative analysis of program materials and testimonies. Community Mental Health Journal, 38(4), 287-301.

To facilitate future research on recovery from schizophrenia a qualitative, longitudinal analysis was conducted with individuals participating in rehabilitation to identify themes associated with improvement in functioning and subjective experience.

Spaniol L, Wewiorski NJ, Gagne C, Anthony WA. (2002). The process of recovery from schizophrenia. International Review of Psychology, 14(4), 327-336.

Many recovery narratives are analyzed in this article and six predominant themes that can be used to group them are identified - biological, environmental, spiritual, political, philosophical and spirit-breaking (transforming).

Jacobson, N. (2001). Experiencing recovery: A dimensional analysis of recovery narratives. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 24(3), 248-255.

Drawing on psychiatric-medical and stress-social support models, and theories of self-concept and stigma, this study examines social psychological processes in recovery from mental illness.

Markowitz, F. (2001). Modeling processes in recovery from mental illness: Relationships between symptoms, life satisfaction, and self-concept. Journal of Health & Social Behavior. 42(1), 64-79.

This paper describes the conceptual shift from studying only mental disorders and mental illness to developing a recovery process model. Recovery is seen as assisting consumers in developing their own individual visions, defining meaning and purpose in their lives, and reclaiming themselves and their identities.

Lunt, A. (2000). Recovery: Moving from concept toward a theory. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 23(4), 401-404.

This article explores the concept of recovery from major mental illness and the empowerment process, while drawing on experiences from the author's own journey of recovery.

Deegan, P. E. (1997). Recovery and empowerment for people with psychiatric disabilities. Social Work in Health Care, 25(3), 11-24.

This paper outlines the need for a new, more integrated approach to researching processes of recovery from mental disorders and the disorders themselves.

Davidson, L. & Strauss, J. (1995). Beyond the biopsychosocial model: Integrating disorder, health, and recovery. Psychiatry, 58, 44-56.

This article seeks to encourage health professionals to reassess their roles in regard to supported employment for people who have episodes of mental illness (EOMI) and to alert them as to the rising number of people who successfully work as trained professionals within mental health areas and have EOMI.

Deegan, P.E. (1993). Recovering our sense of value after being labeled. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 31(4), 7-11.

This paper is based on extensive research interviews conducted over a two to three year period with 66 persons, aged 20 to 55 years, who had been hospitalized for severe mental disorders.

Davidson, L. & Strauss, J. (1992). Sense of self in recovery from severe mental illness. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 65, 131-145.