title: Perceived Control among People with Severe Mental Illness: A Comparative Study.
abstract: Given the importance of perceived control to mental health and recovery, research is needed to determine strategies to increase perceived control for people with a mental illness.
  
  
  
  Investigate the implications of a therapeutic recreation program on the perceived control of people with a mental illness.
  
  
  
  Participants of an intervention group (n=27) and comparison group (n=18) completed the Perceived Control Across Domains Scale at three time intervals. Subscale and total scores were analysed.
  
  
  
  Significant variation occurred in the perceived control areas of substance use, personal cognition and personal empowerment.
  
  
  
  A unique nurse led therapeutic recreation initiative, such as Recovery Camp, can improve and maintain facets of perceived control among people with mental illness.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: cpatters@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: lmoxham@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moxham
authors.affiliation: Global Challenges Program, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: elliejo@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: sliersch@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumskis
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: dperlman@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perlman
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: reneeb@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brighton
authors.affiliation: Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Mental Health Services. Electronic address: tim.heffernan@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: eck978@uowmail.edu.au.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keough
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D011209:Power, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation; D057173:Recreation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires