Psychosocial Rehabilitation Interventions for Mental Health Disorders: A Systematic Review

Mental health disorders (MHD) contribute substantially to long-term disability and social exclusion, requiring interventions that extend beyond symptom reduction to recovery and functional outcomes. This systematic review evaluated psychosocial rehabilitation (PR) interventions for improving functioning, recovery, quality of life (QoL), and service-related outcomes among individuals with MHD. We conducted a structured search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for studies published between 2015 and 2025 using controlled vocabulary and free-text terms. Eligible studies evaluated PR-focused interventions in clinically diagnosed MHD and reported recovery, functioning, social participation, QoL, service engagement, self-management, or community integration outcomes. We excluded pharmacological-only studies, noninterventional studies, reviews, editorials, conference abstracts, and case reports. Eleven studies were included after screening 252 records. The evidence base comprised randomized and cluster-randomized trials, controlled intervention studies, secondary analyses, feasibility or exploratory studies, long-term follow-up evidence, and one clinical trial protocol, reflecting different levels of evidentiary strength. Although limited to 11 eligible studies, the review captured multiple PR models and outcome domains and was designed as a focused narrative synthesis rather than a definitive pooled comparison. Findings indicated potential benefits of cognitive remediation, CBT-integrated programs, Housing First, peer-led rehabilitation, and digital self-management for negative symptoms, social functioning, housing stability, recovery, and service utilization. Overall, PR appears valuable within recovery-oriented mental health systems, although heterogeneous designs and limited robust comparative evidence warrant cautious interpretation.