Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR)
Also known as: QPR, Neil-QPR, Process of Recovery Questionnaire
The Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR), also called the 'Neil-QPR,' is a 22-item self-report measure assessing subjective recovery processes in individuals with serious mental illness, particularly schizophrenia and related disorders. Developed by Stephen T. Neil, Matthias Kilbride, Leonie Pitt, and colleagues in 2009, the QPR captures dimensions central to lived experience of recovery: awareness of mental illness and strengths, motivation to pursue recovery goals, effective coping strategies, hope, and self-esteem. Unlike scales measuring recovery outcomes, the QPR emphasizes recovery as an active process—the psychological and behavioral work individuals undertake.
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When to use it
The QPR is recommended for longitudinal monitoring of recovery engagement in serious mental illness, particularly in psychosocial intervention research and clinical practice. It is useful for identifying which recovery processes (awareness, motivation, coping, hope, self-esteem) are most developed or vulnerable in an individual, informing targeted intervention. The QPR is valuable for tracking the effects of peer support, therapy, skills training, and vocational programs on recovery engagement. It is less suited for acute symptom assessment or crisis evaluation; rather, it applies to ongoing recovery work.
Strengths & limitations
- Developed through collaboration with service users, ensuring relevance and authentic representation of recovery processes.
- Captures recovery as active engagement, not just outcomes—aligned with consumer recovery perspectives.
- Five interpretable subscales reflecting distinct recovery dimensions with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.72–0.85).
- Responsive to change; psychosocial interventions (peer support, therapy) lead to increases in QPR scores.
- Good test–retest reliability (r=0.70–0.80), supporting longitudinal monitoring.
- Validated in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and other serious mental illnesses.
- Limited validation outside schizophrenia-spectrum populations; validation in other psychiatric disorders is less extensive.
- Reverse-scored items can create confusion if respondents are not carefully instructed.
- No universally agreed clinical cutoffs; interpretation relies on comparative data.
- May be vulnerable to social desirability bias; respondents may over-report recovery engagement.
- Subscale intercorrelations suggest some overlap between dimensions; five-factor structure is not universally replicated.
Frequently asked
Which items on the QPR are reverse-scored?
Reverse-scored items typically include those with negative wording, such as items assessing lack of control or hopelessness. The exact reverse-scored items vary by version; consult the original publication (Neil et al., 2009) or the instrument manual for your specific edition. Proper reverse-scoring is critical; incorrect handling will invert subscale values.
Can the QPR be used to diagnose recovery or determine if someone is 'recovered'?
No. The QPR measures ongoing recovery engagement—the psychological work and processes of recovery—not whether recovery has been achieved or the person is 'recovered.' Recovery is an ongoing process, not a destination. High QPR scores indicate strong engagement in recovery work; low scores suggest barriers or reduced engagement.
How do I interpret a high Coping Strategies score but low Hope score?
This profile suggests the individual has developed practical coping skills but struggles with optimism about the future. Clinical response might include hope-building interventions (peer mentoring, goal-setting, highlighting past successes, community participation) alongside reinforcement of coping strengths.
How often should I administer the QPR?
Quarterly (every 3 months) is typical for monitoring recovery engagement. More frequent administration (monthly) may be warranted in intensive interventions. Meaningful change in recovery engagement typically requires 3–6 months of sustained work. Over-frequent assessment may not capture change and can feel burdensome to respondents.
Sources
- Neil, S. T., Kilbride, M., Pitt, L., Nothard, S., Welford, P., Sellwood, W., & Bebbington, P. (2009). The questionnaire about the process of recovery (QPR): A measurement tool developed in collaboration with service users. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 35(2), 403-413. DOI: 10.1080/17522430902913450 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/psychiatric-rehabilitation/personal-recovery-questionnaire
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
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