Differences in Personal Recovery Among Individuals with Severe Mental Disorders in Private and Supported Accommodations: An Exploratory Study

People with severe mental disorders (SMD) face long-term functional impairments requiring integrated, community-based, recovery-oriented care. Italy provides two main housing models for people with SMD: private accommodation (PA) and supported accommodation (SA). This exploratory study investigated differences in recovery outcomes across these settings using the Mental Health Recovery Star (MHRS). A six-month longitudinal study was conducted within the South Verona Community Mental Health Service. Nineteen trained mental health professionals assessed 25 service users (14 in PA, 11 in SA) at baseline (BL) and follow-up (FU) using standardized tools for recovery (MHRS), functioning, psychopathology, functional autonomy, and needs. Group comparisons and within-group changes were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. At BL, users in PA showed better functioning (p=0.040) and fewer needs than those in SA (P=0.008). Recovery goals differed, with PA users focusing on health and networks, while SA users emphasized functioning. At FU, PA users improved across all MHRS domains (p< 0.001), with significant reductions in symptom severity and unmet needs. SA users showed targeted improvements in functioning, autonomy, and MHRS social networks (p< 0.001), with increases in met needs but non-significant changes in unmet needs. Recovery is achievable in both housing settings, though trajectories differ. PA users experienced broader improvements, while SA users progressed in their prioritized areas, likely reflecting more complex initial needs. Findings highlight the importance of tailoring recovery support to individual stages and settings. Further research is needed to confirm and expand these results.