Illness Management and Recovery (IMR)Scale
Mueser‚ Gingerich‚Salyers‚ McGuire‚ Reyes‚ & Cunningham‚ 2004
Client Self-Rating
1. Progress towards personal goals: In the past 3 months‚ I have come up with…
1) No personal goals2) A personal goal‚ but have not done anything to finish my goal.3) A personal goal and made it a little way toward finishing it.4) A personal goal and have gotten pretty far in finishing my goal.5) A personal goal and have finished it.
2. Knowledge: How much do you feel like you know about symptoms‚ treatment‚ coping strategies (coping methods)‚ and medication?
1) Not very much2) A little3) Some4) Quite a bit5) A great deal
3. Involvement of family and friends in my mental health treatment: How much are family members‚ friends‚ boyfriend/girlfriend‚ and other people who are important to you (outside your mental health agency) involved in your mental health treatment?
1) Not at all2) Only when there is a serious problem3) Sometimes‚ like when things are starting to go badly4) Much of the time5) A lot of the time and they really help me with my mental health
4. Contact with people outside of my family: In a normal week‚ how many times do you talk to someone outside of your family (like a friend‚ co-worker‚ classmate‚ roommate‚ etc.)
1) 0 times/ week2) 1-2 times/ week3) 3-4 times/ week4) 6-7 times/ week5) 8 or more times/ week
5. Time in Structured Roles: How much time do you spend working‚ volunteering‚ being a student‚ being a parent‚ taking care of someone else or someone else’s house or apartment? That is‚ how much time do you spend in doing activities for or with another person that are expected of you? (This would not include self care or personal home maintenance.)
1) 2 hours or less/ week2) 3-5 hours/ week3) 6 to 15 hours/ week4) 16-30 hours/ week5) More than 30 hours/ week
6. Symptom distress: How much do your symptoms bother you?
1) My symptoms really bother me a lot.2) My symptoms bother me quite a bit.3) My symptoms bother me somewhat.4) My symptoms bother me very little.5) My symptoms don’t bother me at all.
7. Impairment of functioning: How much do your symptoms get in the way of you doing things that you would like to or need to do?
1) My symptoms really get in my way a lot.2) My symptoms get in my way quite a bit.3) My symptoms get in my way somewhat.4) My symptoms get in my way very little.5) My symptoms don’t get in my way at all.
8. Relapse Prevention Planning: Which of the following would best describe what you know and what you have done in order not to have a relapse?
1) I don’t know how to prevent relapses.2) I know a little‚ but I haven’t made a relapse prevention plan.3) I know 1 or 2 things I can do‚ but I don’t have a written plan4) I have several things that I can do‚ but I don’t have a written plan5) I have a written plan that I have shared with others.
9. Relapse of Symptoms: When is the last time you had a relapse of symptoms (that is‚ when your symptoms have gotten much worse)?
1) Within the last month2) In the past 2 to 3 months3) In the past 4 to 6 months4) In the past 7 to 12 months5) I haven’t had a relapse in the past year
10. Psychiatric Hospitalizations: When is the last time you have been hospitalized for mental health or substance abuse reasons?
1) Within the last month2) In the past 2 to 3 months3) In the past 4 to 6 months4) In the past 7 to 12 months5) I haven’t been hospitalized in the past year
11. Coping: How well do feel like you are coping with your mental or emotional illness from day to day?
1) Not well at all2) Not very well3) Alright4) Well5) Very well
12. Involvement with self-help activities: How involved are you in consumer run services‚ peer support groups‚ Alcoholics Anonymous‚ drop-in centers‚ WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)‚ or other similar self-help programs?
1) I don’t know about any self-help activities2) I know about some self-help activities‚ but I’m not interested3) I’m interested in self-help activities‚ but I have not participated in the past year4) I participate in self-help activities occasionally.5) I participate in self-help activities regularly.
13. Using Medication Effectively: (Don’t answer this question if your doctor has not prescribed medication for you). How often do you take your medication as prescribed?
1) Never2) Occasionally3) About half the time4) Most of the time5) Every day
14. Functioning affected by alcohol use. Drinking can interfere with functioning when it contributes to conflict in relationships‚ or to money‚ housing and legal concerns‚ to difficulty showing up at appointments or paying attention during them‚ or to increased symptoms. Over the past 3 months‚ how much did drinking get in the way of your functioning?
Alcohol use really gets in my way a lotAlcohol use gets in my way quite a bitAlcohol use gets in my way somewhatAlcohol use gets in my way very littleAlcohol use is not a factor in my functioning
15. Functioning affected by drug use. Using street drugs‚ and misusing prescription or over-the-counter medication can interfere with functioning when it contributes to conflict in relationships‚ or to money‚ housing and legal concerns‚ to difficulty showing up at appointments or paying attention during them‚ or to increased symptoms. Over the past 3 months‚ how much did drug use get in the way of your functioning?
1) Drug use really gets in my way a lot2) Drug use gets in my way quite a bit3) Drug use gets in my way somewhat4) Drug use gets in my way very little5) Drug use is not a factor in my functioning
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Clinician Rating
1. Progress toward goals: In the past 3 months‚ s/he has come up with…
1) No personal goals2) A personal goal‚ but has not done anything to finish the goal3) A personal goal and made it a little way toward finishing it4) A personal goal and has gotten pretty far in finishing the goal5) A personal goal and has finished it
2. Knowledge: How much do you feel your client knows about symptoms‚ treatment‚ coping strategies (coping methods)‚ and medication?
1) Not very much2) A little3) Some4) Quite a bit5) A great deal
3. Involvement of family and friends in his/her mental health treatment: How much are people like family‚ friends‚ boyfriends/girlfriends‚ and other people who are important to your client (outside the mental health agency) involved in his/her treatment?
1) Not at all2) Only when there is a serious problem3) Sometimes‚ like when things are starting to go badly4) Much of the time5) A lot of the time and they really help with his/her mental health
4. Contact with people outside of the family: In a normal week‚ how many times does s/he talk to someone outside of her/his family (like a friend‚ co-worker‚ classmate‚ roommate‚ etc.)?
1) 0 times/ week2) 1-2 times/ week3) 3-4 times/ week4) 6-7 times/ week5) 8 or more times/ week
5. Time in Structured Roles: How much time does s/he spend working‚ volunteering‚ being a student‚ being a parent‚ taking care of someone else or someone else’s house or apartment? That is‚ how much time does s/he spend in doing activities for or with another person that are expected of him/her? (This would not include self-care or personal home maintenance.)
1) 2 hours or less/ week2) 3-5 hours/ week3) 6 to 15 hours/ week4) 16-30 hours/ week5) More than 30 hours/ week
6. Symptom distress: How much do symptoms bother him/her?
1) Symptoms really bother him/her a lot2) Symptoms bother him/her quite a bit3) Symptoms bother him/her somewhat4) Symptoms bother him/her very little5) Symptoms don’t bother him/her at all
7. Impairment of functioning: How much do symptoms get in the way of him/her doing things that s/he would like to do or needs to do?
1) Symptoms really get in her/his way a lot2) Symptoms get in his/her way quite a bit3) Symptoms get in his/her way somewhat4) Symptoms get in his/her way very little5) Symptoms don’t get in his/her way at all
8. Relapse Prevention Planning: Which of the following would best describe what s/he knows and has done in order not to have a relapse?
1) Doesn’t know how to prevent relapses2) Knows a little‚ but hasn’t made a relapse prevention plan3) Knows 1 or 2 things to do‚ but doesn’t have a written plan4) Knows several things to do‚ but doesn’t have a written plan5) Has a written plan and has shared it with others
9. Relapse of Symptoms: When is the last time s/he had a relapse of symptoms (that is‚ when his/her symptoms have gotten much worse)?
1) Within the last month2) In the past 2 to 3 months3) In the past 4 to 6 months4) In the past 7 to 12 months5) Hasn’t had a relapse in the past year
10. Psychiatric Hospitalizations: When is the last time s/he has been hospitalized for mental health or substance abuse reasons?
1) Within the last month2) In the past 2 to 3 months3) In the past 4 to 6 months4) In the past 7 to 12 months5) No hospitalization in the past year
11. Coping: How well do feel your client is coping with her/his mental or emotional illness from day to day?
1) Not well at all2) Not very well3) Alright4) Well5) Very well
12. Involvement with self-help activities: How involved is s/he in consumer run services‚ peer support groups‚ Alcoholics Anonymous‚ drop-in centers‚ WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)‚ or other similar self-help programs?
1) Doesn’t know about any self help activities2) Knows about some self-help activities‚ but isn’t interested3) Is interested in self-help activities‚ but hasn’t participated in the past year4) Participates in self-help activities occasionally5) Participates in self-help activities regularly
13. Using Medication Effectively: (Don’t answer this question if her/his doctor has not prescribed medication). How often does s/he take his/her medication as prescribed?
1) Never2) Occasionally3) About half the time4) Most of the time5) Every day_____ Check here if the client is not prescribed psychiatric medications.
14. Impairment of functioning through alcohol use: Drinking can interfere with functioning when it contributes to conflict in relationships‚ or to financial‚ housing and legal concerns‚ to difficulty attending appointments or focusing during them‚ or to increases of symptoms. Over the past 3 months‚ did alcohol use get in the way of his/her functioning?
1. Alcohol use really gets in h er/his way a lot2. Alcohol use gets in his/her way quite a bit3. Alcohol use gets in his/her way somewhat4. Alcohol use gets in his/her way very little5. Alcohol use is not a factor in his/her functioning
15. Impairment of functioning through drug use: Using street drugs‚ and misusing prescription or over-the-counter medication can interfere with functioning when it contributes to conflict in relationships‚ or to financial‚ housing and legal concerns‚ to difficulty attending appointments or focusing during them‚ or to increases of symptoms.
Over the past 3 months‚ did drug use get in the way of his/her functioning?
1. Drug use really gets in her/his way a lot2. Drug use gets in his/her way quite a bit3. Drug use gets in his/her way somewhat4. Drug use gets in his/her way very little5. Drug use is not a factor in his/her functioning
This instrument can be found at: https://www.power2u.org/downloads/pn-55.pdf
Bullock‚ W.A.‚ O’Rourke‚ M.‚ Farrer‚ E.‚ Breedlove‚ A.‚ Smith M.K.‚ & Claggett‚ A. (2005‚ August). Evaluation of the Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Program. Presented at the 113th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association Meeting‚ Washington‚ D.C.
Hasson-Ohayon I‚ Roe D‚ Kravetz S. (2007). The psychometric properties of the illness management and recovery scale: Client and clinician versions. Psychiatry Research ;160:228-235.
Mueser‚ K.T.‚ Gingerich‚ S.‚ Salyers‚ M.P.‚ McGuire‚ A.B.‚ Reyes‚ R.U.‚ and Cunningham‚ H. (2004). The Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scales (Client and Clinician Versions). Concord‚ NH: New Hampshire- Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center.
Cite this article
mohammad looti (2026). Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/illness-management-and-recovery-imr-scale/
mohammad looti. "Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 25 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/illness-management-and-recovery-imr-scale/.
mohammad looti. "Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/illness-management-and-recovery-imr-scale/.
mohammad looti (2026) 'Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scale', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/illness-management-and-recovery-imr-scale/.
[1] mohammad looti, "Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scale," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
mohammad looti. Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.