| Abstract [eng] |
Mental disorders are a major cause of disability and may impair emotional regulation, cognition, interpersonal relationships, occupational functioning and social participation. Although psychiatric treatment has traditionally focused on symptom reduction, contemporary mental health literature increasingly understands recovery as a broader and more individualised process. Recovery may include not only clinical improvement, but also functional reintegration, personal empowerment, identity reconstruction and renewed participation in social life. Therefore, examining recovery through a multidimensional biopsychosocial framework is crucial for understanding psychiatric outcomes beyond remission alone. The aim of this thesis was to examine the concept of recovery from mental disorders within a multidimensional biopsychosocial framework and to explore how recovery processes manifest across selected psychiatric conditions. The objectives were to review conceptual definitions of recovery in mental health literature, examine recovery mechanisms across selected psychiatric disorders, identify common adaptive processes involved in recovery trajectories, and synthesise a multidimensional framework for understanding recovery. This thesis was conducted as a narrative literature review. Scientific literature was obtained mainly from PubMed, supplemented by reference lists of selected publications and established psychiatric textbooks when needed. The review focused on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, antisocial personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Peer-reviewed English-language publications addressing psychological, neurobiological, social and therapeutic aspects of recovery were included. The selected literature was analysed using thematic narrative synthesis. The results showed that recovery cannot be defined solely as the disappearance of symptoms. Across the disorders examined, recovery involved several overlapping mechanisms, including emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural adaptation, development of compensatory strategies, identity reconstruction and social reintegration. The findings also indicated that recovery is diagnosis-sensitive: in some disorders it may involve reduction of compulsive or avoidance behaviours, while in others it may involve long-term executive compensation, improved relational functioning or reduced harmful behaviour. Social support, access to treatment and reduction of stigma were also identified as important factors influencing recovery. In conclusion, recovery from mental disorder is best understood as a dynamic, individualised and multidimensional process shaped by biological, psychological and social factors. It often reflects adaptive restructuring and improved functioning rather than complete symptom elimination. This perspective supports more integrative and person-centred approaches to psychiatric care. |
